The Democratic Republic of Congo government and the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebel group have agreed on a new roadmap aimed at advancing peace negotiations and implementing a ceasefire in the country’s conflict-hit east.
The agreement followed five days of talks in Switzerland from August 17 to 21 involving representatives from DR Congo, AFC/M23, Qatar, the US, Togo, the African Union Commission and Switzerland.
The two sides agreed on a sequence of steps and timelines for negotiations under the Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which they signed in Qatar in November 2025.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing negotiations towards a broader resolution of the conflict and agreed to establish a mechanism to review progress and address obstacles to implementing previous commitments.
A separate ceasefire verification mechanism is also being put into operation, with its secretariat established and the first verification mission scheduled for August 24 in Minembwe, South Kivu.
The mechanism is intended to investigate alleged ceasefire violations and establish a standardised system for reporting breaches.
Despite repeated peace initiatives, fighting has continued across parts of North and South Kivu, with government forces and AFC/M23 accusing each other of violating ceasefire agreements.
M23 resumed a major offensive in eastern DR Congo in 2021 and significantly expanded its territorial control in early 2025, capturing the provincial capitals Goma and Bukavu.
The conflict has displaced large numbers of civilians and is closely linked to longstanding tensions between DR Congo and neighbouring Rwanda.
Kinshasa and the UN have accused Rwanda of providing military support to M23, allegations Kigali denies. Rwanda in turn says armed groups operating from eastern DR Congo, particularly the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), pose a threat to its security.
Eastern DR Congo has endured decades of conflict involving numerous armed groups and competition over territory, political influence and the region’s substantial mineral resources.
