DR Congo and M23 rebels agree on roadmap for peace talks following Swiss negotiations

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 armed group have agreed to develop a roadmap setting out sequenced steps and timelines for peace negotiations. According to a joint statement published by Switzerland after hosting the negotiations, the breakthrough follows a round of closed-door discussions aimed at reviving a stalled peace process as ongoing fighting continues to affect eastern regions of the country.

The talks took place behind closed doors from August 17 to August 21 in Switzerland, bringing together government representatives and the rebel group alongside international mediators. The negotiations were originally convened to assess progress made and challenges encountered to date under the framework of the Doha process. The talks were relocated to Switzerland from Doha earlier this year due to the Middle East conflict. Last year, the Congolese government and the M23 signed a peace framework agreement in Doha, brokered by Qatar, underlining a shared commitment to addressing the root causes of the conflict through structured dialogue and a phased approach to de-escalation and stabilization.

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International involvement has remained heavy throughout the diplomatic push. The Swiss-hosted talks were attended by representatives from Qatar, the United States, Togo as the African Union mediator, the African Union Commission, and Switzerland itself. According to the joint statement, the parties committed to flexibility and creativity within the existing structure of the Doha Framework Agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to pursue negotiations towards comprehensive peace and conflict resolution through the implementation of the Framework Agreement.

The broader eastern DRC has been riven by decades of conflict, with multiple armed groups fighting over its mineral-rich territory. The AFC/M23 seized swathes of the region last year, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu which were captured early in 2025 following a lightning offensive after the group resumed fighting in 2021. The United Nations and Kinshasa accuse neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23, an allegation that Kigali denies.

Despite prior efforts, fighting has continued on the ground. As part of the newly agreed roadmap, the delegates established specific monitoring and reporting mechanisms. The sides agreed on the importance of a standardized method for reporting allegations of ceasefire violations. They also agreed to establish a mechanism tasked with reviewing progress and addressing challenges in the implementation of obligations and commitments under the Doha Framework Agreement.

Even as diplomats charted a path forward in Europe, the security situation on the ground remains fragile following intensified fighting between the AFC/M23 and government forces, according to local sources. Lawrence Kanyuka, an M23 spokesperson, claimed on social media that Kinshasa coalition forces launched deadly airstrikes using kamikaze drones against densely populated areas of Mukoko and Nyamabuguma in the Minembwe axis.

The joint statement emphasized that the parties developed a roadmap setting out sequenced steps and timelines for negotiations under the Doha Framework Agreement, and committed to flexibility and creativity within the existing structure of that agreement. The two sides also signed a US-brokered peace agreement late last year in the Qatari capital Doha, but fighting has persisted.

What to Watch Next

• A first ceasefire verification mission is due in Minembwe, located in the DRC's South Kivu province, on Monday.
• Implementation of the newly agreed roadmap and its sequenced steps for negotiations under the Doha Framework Agreement.
• Deployment and effectiveness of the standardized method for reporting ceasefire violations and the new review mechanism.