The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s government and the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) have agreed on a roadmap to revive negotiations aimed at ending the conflict in the country’s east.
The agreement sets out “sequenced steps and timelines” for negotiations under the Doha Framework Agreement, which the two sides signed in Qatar in November 2025, according to a joint statement issued by the US Department of State on August 22.
The framework was intended to build trust, address the roots of the conflict and create a path towards a comprehensive peace settlement, but fighting has continued despite repeated ceasefire commitments.
The Swiss meetings took place from August 17 to 21 and brought together representatives of the Congolese government and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23, alongside officials from Qatar, the United States, Switzerland, Togo and the African Union Commission. The parties assessed progress under the Doha process, discussed obstacles to implementing previous commitments and agreed on a mechanism to review progress.
They also pledged to remain flexible in resolving outstanding issues and to establish a standardized system for reporting alleged ceasefire violations. Supporters of the process hope the system will reduce conflicting accounts of battlefield incidents and provide mediators with a clearer basis for investigating breaches.
A first ceasefire verification mission was scheduled for August 24 in Minembwe, a conflict-affected area in South Kivu province. The mission will operate under the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus, or EJVM+, which has been established to monitor compliance and help address violations. A reconnaissance mission was conducted on August 20 with logistical support from the United Nations peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, according to the joint statement.
The M23 and its political wing, the AFC, have captured significant territory in North and South Kivu since intensifying their offensive in 2021. The rebels seized the provincial capitals Goma and Bukavu in early 2025, deepening the humanitarian and political crisis.
M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka alleged on August 22 that Congolese coalition forces had carried out drone strikes in the Minembwe area, causing civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. The United Nations has previously warned that the growing use of drones by opposing forces has increased risks to civilians.
The conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions across eastern Congo. The crisis is also being compounded by an Ebola outbreak, placing additional pressure on communities already affected by fighting and limited access to essential services.
