Congo-Kinshasa: DR Congo and M23 Rebels Agree On Roadmap for Peace in Eastern Congo

What the report says

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group have agreed on a roadmap for peace talks focused on ending the long-running conflict in eastern Congo, according to RFI, as distributed by AllAfrica. The agreement follows Swiss-hosted discussions held earlier this week and adds to an internationally mediated process that has produced cautious steps but not yet stopped the fighting.

RFI said mediators released a joint statement on Saturday night saying the parties committed to pursue negotiations toward a comprehensive peace settlement. The roadmap sets out sequenced steps and timelines for the talks and includes a mechanism for handling problems that arise in carrying out the peace deal signed late last year in Qatar. The sides also backed a more standardized way to report alleged ceasefire violations.

The report said a ceasefire verification mission is due to arrive in Minembwe, in South Kivu province, on Monday. That would be the first formal inspection under the November 2025 agreement and the first deployment of the joint body meant to oversee it. RFI noted that the region remains volatile, with continued fighting between forces aligned with the government and those linked to M23.

The wider conflict has deep roots in eastern DRC, where armed groups have battled for territory and resources for decades. Recent fighting has displaced large numbers of people and drawn regional and international concern, including accusations by Kinshasa and some Western governments that Rwanda backs M23, which Kigali denies.