DR Congo and M23 Rebels Outline Peace Roadmap in Swiss Talks

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda‑backed M23 rebel group reached an agreement on a roadmap for peace talks during a five‑day conference held in Switzerland.

They pledged to pursue negotiations towards comprehensive peace and conflict resolution, and set up a mechanism to monitor the cease‑fire.

The roadmap builds on a US‑brokered Doha Framework Agreement signed in 2025, but fighting continues in eastern DR Congo. Disagreements persist over sanctions imposed on M23, the release of detainees, and the timing of political reforms.

Attendees included the M23, the Congolese government, Qatar, the United States, the Republic of Togo, the African Union Commission, and Swiss officials who hosted the talks.

The parties agreed to establish a mechanism tasked with reviewing progress and addressing challenges in implementing commitments under the 2025 agreement. Sequenced steps and timelines were drafted, along with commitments to flexibility and creativity.

A monitoring mechanism for cease‑fire violations was approved. Its secretariat has been established and a verification mission is scheduled for Monday in Minembwe, an area of South Kivu affected by fighting.

Despite repeated cease‑fire commitments, violence has persisted in North and South Kivu, with the government and M23 accusing each other of violations.

Rwanda cancels a report of a clash with the M23 during the brief fight over Goma, the Tutsi‑threatening genocide. The government of the DR Congo, meanwhile, regards the FDLR as a threat and claims that the group’s violent side is left for the latter to defeat. The situation remains complex.

There is still a need for attention to civilian safety, as nearly a million people have been injured during multiple episodes of violence each year. The negotiation framework remains subject to scrutiny by the international community.