DRC Government and AFC/M23 Agree Roadmap to Advance Stalled Peace Process
DR Congo President
Kinshasa / Geneva — The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) have agreed on a roadmap with sequenced steps and timelines to advance negotiations under the Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, according to a joint statement released following five days of talks in Switzerland.
The meetings, held from 17 to 21 August 2026, brought together representatives of the DRC government and AFC/M23, along with facilitators from Qatar, the United States, Togo (as African Union mediator), the African Union Commission, and Switzerland. The discussions reviewed progress and challenges in implementing the Doha Framework, signed in the Qatari capital on 15 November 2025, and addressed the path forward for outstanding protocols.
A key outcome was agreement to establish a dedicated mechanism tasked with reviewing progress and addressing challenges in the implementation of existing obligations and commitments. The parties also committed to a standardised method for reporting alleged ceasefire violations.
Significant progress was noted on the operationalisation of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+), the body responsible for monitoring the ceasefire. This includes the establishment of its Secretariat and a reconnaissance mission conducted on 20 August with logistical support from the United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUSCO. The first formal EJVM+ ceasefire verification mission is scheduled for 24 August in Minembwe, a volatile area in South Kivu province that has seen repeated fighting.
The parties reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing comprehensive peace and conflict resolution through the Doha Framework. They emphasised flexibility and creativity within its existing structure, noting that the order in which remaining protocols are negotiated will not determine the order of their implementation.
The Doha Framework outlines protocols covering areas such as humanitarian access, security arrangements, governance, the return of refugees and displaced persons, and economic recovery. Fighting has continued in eastern DRC despite the November 2025 agreement, displacing millions and causing thousands of deaths in the mineral-rich region.
International partners welcomed the developments. U.S. Senior Advisor for Africa and the Middle East Massad Boulos expressed satisfaction with the additional progress from the Swiss meetings and reiterated Washington’s support for peace and stability in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region.
While the agreements mark procedural advances after months of slow progress, observers note that sustained implementation on the ground—particularly credible ceasefire monitoring by the EJVM+—will be critical to building trust and reducing violence. Minembwe itself has experienced recent mortar and drone activity, underscoring the fragile security situation.
The parties expressed gratitude to Qatar, the United States, Togo, Switzerland, and the African Union Commission for their continued support for peace efforts in eastern DRC.
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