DR Congo and M23 rebels agree on a roadmap to peace
Representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group have agreed on a roadmap to advance peace after several days of talks in Geneva. The agreement provides for sequential steps and deadlines for further negotiations.
Framework for negotiations
As Deutsche Welle English reports, the US Department of State released a statement on the results of the talks on Saturday evening. The African Union, Switzerland and Qatar also acted as mediators.
The State Department noted that the new agreement is based on an accord brokered by the United States in Doha in November last year. The Congolese side and M23 defined stages and timelines for negotiations within the Doha framework agreement.
Ceasefire monitoring
Despite a ceasefire in effect since November 15, progress toward peace has been slow. At the same time, the sides recently carried out a prisoner exchange.
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The roadmap provides for support from the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO for an observer mission that will monitor compliance with the ceasefire. Further talks aimed at achieving lasting peace are expected to take place soon.
Fighting in the east of the country
Since the beginning of 2022, fighting between the sides has killed hundreds of civilians and forced millions of people to flee their homes. M23 sought to establish control over resource-rich areas of eastern DR Congo, where there is gold, cassiterite, coltan and diamonds.
The group, which is accused of brutal crimes during the war, has controlled significant territories in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces since 2025. The State Department statement said that both sides thanked the mediators for supporting peace and stability in eastern DR Congo and the Great African Lakes region.
