The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group have agreed to a roadmap for peace talks. This agreement follows five days of negotiations held in Switzerland, where representatives pledged to "pursue negotiations towards comprehensive peace and conflict resolution" and establish a mechanism to monitor the ceasefire.
The roadmap outlines a timeline for discussions under a US-brokered peace framework, which was initially signed in 2025. Despite this previous agreement, fighting has continued in eastern DR Congo, a region affected by conflict for decades.
Key disagreements remain, including sanctions against M23, the release of detainees, and the timing of political reforms. The recent negotiations included M23, the DR Congo government, Qatar, the US, the Republic of Togo, the African Union Commission, and host Switzerland.
The parties also agreed to implement a mechanism to monitor ceasefire violations. Its secretariat has been established, and the first verification mission is scheduled for Monday in Minembwe, an area in South Kivu impacted by fighting.