DR Congo and M23 Rebels Outline Peace Roadmap After Swiss Talks

The Democratic Republic of Congo government and the Rwanda‑backed M23 rebel group have agreed on a roadmap to pursue peace talks, setting a mechanism to monitor ceasefire violations. The agreement was reached after five days of discussions in Switzerland, held under a US‑brokered Doha Framework that had seen limited progress since 2025.

Both sides pledged to pursue comprehensive peace and conflict resolution, with a clear timeline and sequenced steps that allow room for flexibility and creativity. The parties remain at odds on key issues such as sanctions against M23, the release of detainees, and the timing of political reforms.

The talks were attended by the M23 group, the Congolese government, Qatar, the United States, Togo, the African Union Commission and the host country Switzerland.

Central to the agreement is an oversight mechanism tasked with reviewing progress and addressing challenges in implementing commitments under the Doha Framework. A secretariat has been established, and a verification mission is scheduled to inspect Minembwe in South Kivu, an area heavily affected by fighting.

The ongoing conflict, rooted in tensions between DR Congo and Rwanda, has seen both sides accuse each other of violating ceasefire commitments. Rwanda claims that the DRC has failed to dismantle the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, an armed group it sees as a threat. The DRC denies supporting the FDLR and accuses Rwanda of arming M23. In January 2025, M23 seized parts of eastern DRC, including Goma and two airports, exacerbating the violence.

Thousands have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced over the decades of fighting, while eastern DR Congo’s rich coltan and other minerals continue to fuel the conflict.