M23 rebels seen in Goma in March after an air strike on the territory: Photo Credit France24

NNA News - The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government and the March 23 Movement (M23) have agreed on a roadmap setting out the sequence and timelines for further peace negotiations under the Doha peace process.

The agreement followed meetings held in Switzerland from August 17 to 21, where representatives of the two sides reviewed progress and challenges in implementing commitments made under the Doha Framework Agreement. According to a joint statement issued by the parties, the discussions focused on assessing the progress of the peace process, reviewing existing obligations and determining the next steps for negotiations.

The roadmap establishes a sequence and timetable for future talks. The two sides also agreed to create a mechanism to monitor progress and address challenges arising from the implementation of commitments under the framework agreement. The agreement comes as efforts continue to establish mechanisms for monitoring a ceasefire in eastern DRC, where fighting between government forces and M23 has contributed to a prolonged security and humanitarian crisis.

The two sides welcomed progress in putting the ceasefire verification mechanism into operation. The first verification mission was scheduled for August 24 in Minembwe, in South Kivu Province. They also stressed the need for a standardised approach to reporting alleged violations of the ceasefire.

M23 rebels seen in Goma in March after an air strike on the territory: Photo Credit: France 24

The parties reaffirmed their commitment to negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive resolution to the conflict. The eastern DRC conflict has intensified since January 2025, when M23 increased its military operations in North Kivu and South Kivu and seized several strategic cities. Qatar has facilitated the peace process. In July 2025, the DRC government and M23 signed a declaration of principles in Doha, establishing a basis for further negotiations.

The two sides subsequently signed a framework agreement in November, committing themselves to using dialogue to build trust, advance stabilisation in stages and address what they described as the underlying causes of the conflict. The latest roadmap provides a further structure for implementing those commitments, although the joint statement does not specify the individual negotiating deadlines or the precise content of the next stages.

The establishment of a mechanism to review progress will also place greater emphasis on implementation as the parties move forward with the Doha process. For communities affected by years of conflict in eastern DRC, the success of the process will ultimately depend on whether the commitments translate into sustained cessation of hostilities and progress towards a lasting political settlement.