Congo, M23 rebels agree to peace roadmap

In Geneva, Switzerland, on Saturday evening, delegates from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel faction backed by Rwanda concluded peace negotiations and endorsed a joint roadmap to foster tranquility in the DRC following a protracted and violent conflict. The US State Department, alongside the African Union (AU), Switzerland, and Qatar, announced the accord, attributing its success to the ongoing ceasefire since November 15, 2023.

The department emphasized that the roadmap outlines progressive steps and deadlines for talks under the Doha Framework Agreement, which was previously approved in Qatar in November 2023. Although the ceasefire has been in effect, progress towards peace has been sluggish, although prisoner exchanges have occurred recently. The roadmap also stipulates that an observer mission to monitor the ceasefire will receive assistance from UN MONUSCO peacekeeping troops, and additional negotiations aimed at achieving enduring peace are anticipated soon.

The conflict since mid-2022 has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and the displacement of millions in eastern Congo, particularly in the resource-rich regions of North and South Kivu, where M23 — backed by Rwanda — has held sway since early 2025. Both parties expressed gratitude to the mediators for their unwavering support in advancing peace and stability in the eastern DRC and the broader Great Lakes region in their statement.