The Democratic Republic of Congo and the AFC/M23 armed group have agreed to develop a roadmap setting out steps and timelines for peace negotiations under a Doha framework agreement signed last year.
The agreement followed peace talks between government and M23 representatives held from August 17 to 21 in Switzerland to revive a stalled peace process amid continued fighting in eastern Congo.
The sides “reaffirmed their commitment to pursue negotiations towards comprehensive peace and conflict resolution through the implementation of the Framework Agreement,” according to a joint statement issued on Saturday.
They also agreed on a standardised method for reporting alleged ceasefire violations and on establishing a mechanism to address challenges in implementing commitments under the framework agreement.
Fighting continues in eastern Congo
The Congolese government and M23 signed the peace framework agreement in Doha in November 2025, with Qatar brokering the deal.
The agreement outlined a phased approach to addressing the root causes of the conflict and supporting de-escalation and stabilisation in eastern Congo.
The security situation remains fragile, however, with fighting between AFC/M23 and government forces continuing, according to local sources.
M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said on Saturday on X that forces supporting Kinshasa had carried out deadly air strikes using kamikaze drones against densely populated areas of Mukoko and Nyamabuguma in the Minembwe area.
No independent confirmation of the allegation was immediately available.
The talks were moved from Doha to Switzerland earlier this year because of the conflict in the Middle East.
Representatives from Qatar, the US, Togo as the African Union mediator, the African Union Commission and Switzerland also attended the latest talks, which assessed progress and challenges in the Doha process.
M23 has been at the centre of the conflict in eastern Congo since resuming its armed campaign in 2021. The group captured the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu in early 2025.
The UN, Kinshasa and others accuse neighbouring Rwanda of supporting M23, a charge Kigali denies.
