The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group have agreed on a roadmap aimed at advancing peace negotiations and ending the prolonged conflict in the country’s east.
The agreement was reached after five days of talks in Switzerland, with the parties pledging to pursue negotiations toward what they described as a comprehensive peace and lasting conflict resolution.
They also agreed to establish a mechanism to monitor violations of an existing ceasefire.
Roadmap Sets Timeline for Peace Negotiations
According to a joint statement issued after the talks, the roadmap establishes a series of sequenced steps and timelines for negotiations under the Doha Framework Agreement, a US-brokered peace framework signed in 2025.
The agreement had raised hopes of an end to the fighting, but clashes continued in eastern DR Congo despite repeated ceasefire commitments.
The parties agreed to create a mechanism to review progress and address challenges in implementing the obligations contained in the Doha agreement.
They also committed to showing “flexibility and creativity” during the negotiation process.
Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism Established
A key outcome of the latest talks was the establishment of a mechanism to monitor alleged ceasefire violations.
The secretariat for the mechanism has already been established, while its first verification mission is expected to take place on Monday in Minembwe, an area of South Kivu that has been affected by fighting.
Both the Congolese government and M23 have repeatedly accused each other of violating previous ceasefire agreements.
Major Issues Remain Unresolved
Despite the progress, significant disagreements remain.
The parties still face difficult questions over sanctions against M23, the release of detainees and the timing of proposed political reforms.
The negotiations were attended by representatives of M23, the DR Congo government, Qatar, the United States, Togo, the African Union Commission and Switzerland.
Conflict Deeply Linked to Rwanda
The conflict in eastern DR Congo is closely connected to longstanding tensions between Kinshasa and neighbouring Rwanda.
Rwanda has accused DR Congo of failing to dismantle the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group Kigali considers a security threat.
The Congolese government denies supporting the FDLR and has repeatedly accused Rwanda of providing troops and weapons to M23. Rwanda has denied supporting the rebels.
The conflict escalated dramatically in January 2025, when M23 captured major areas of eastern DR Congo, including the strategic city of Goma and two airports.
Hope for a Lasting Peace
Decades of conflict in eastern DR Congo have resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.
The region is also rich in valuable minerals, including coltan, which is essential to the production of electronic devices.
The latest roadmap represents another attempt to move the parties from military confrontation to negotiations. However, its success will depend on whether the commitments are implemented on the ground and whether the ceasefire can be maintained.
The first ceasefire verification mission in Minembwe is expected to provide an early indication of whether the latest peace initiative can deliver meaningful progress.
