Congo-Kinshasa: Joint Statement Between DR Congo and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) on the Doha Process

What the report says

Representatives of the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the AFC/M23 movement issued a joint statement after talks held in Switzerland from August 17 to August 21, according to the U.S. State Department text republished by AllAfrica. The discussions involved Qatar, the United States, Togo acting as the African Union mediator, Switzerland and the African Union Commission, and focused on the Doha process for a comprehensive peace agreement.

The statement says the parties reviewed progress and remaining obstacles in carrying out commitments under the Doha Framework, which was signed in Doha on November 15, 2025. They also discussed how to move forward on outstanding protocols and on practical steps for implementation. A key point was continued work on the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus, including establishment of its secretariat and a reconnaissance mission supported by MONUSCO ahead of a ceasefire verification mission scheduled for August 24 in Minembwe.

The parties said they agreed on the need for a standard way to report alleged ceasefire violations and on creating a mechanism to monitor implementation and address difficulties. They also developed a roadmap with sequenced negotiations and timelines, while stressing flexibility within the existing framework. The statement underlines the fragility of the peace track in eastern Congo and the importance of verification, coordination and confidence-building as negotiations continue.