By Spy Uganda
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group have agreed on a roadmap aimed at advancing peace negotiations and ending years of conflict in the mineral-rich eastern part of the country.
The agreement was reached during five days of closed-door talks in Switzerland and sets out a series of steps and timelines for implementing the Doha Framework Agreement, which the two sides signed last year.
According to a joint statement published on Sunday by Switzerland, the parties committed to maintaining negotiations and showing flexibility as they work towards a comprehensive resolution to the conflict.
“The Parties developed a roadmap setting out sequenced steps and timelines for negotiations under the Doha Framework Agreement,” the statement said.
The latest agreement comes despite continued fighting in eastern DRC since the signing of the US-brokered framework in Doha, Qatar.
Representatives of the Congolese government and M23 met in Switzerland from August 17 to 21, with the talks bringing together representatives from the United States, Qatar, Switzerland, the African Union Commission and Togo, which served as the African Union mediator.
As part of the new roadmap, the two sides agreed to establish a standardised system for reporting alleged violations of the ceasefire.
A first ceasefire verification mission is expected to take place in Minembwe, in South Kivu Province, as the parties seek to strengthen monitoring and establish a clearer mechanism for responding to violations.
The agreement also provides for the creation of a mechanism to assess progress and address challenges arising from the implementation of commitments under the Doha Framework Agreement.
The parties reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive peace settlement and resolving the conflict through implementation of the existing framework.
The latest diplomatic effort comes amid years of instability in eastern DRC, where numerous armed groups have fought for territory and influence.
The M23 has captured large areas of eastern DRC in recent years, intensifying a conflict that has displaced communities and created a major humanitarian crisis.
The region is also home to deposits of minerals considered critical to global technology and manufacturing, adding an economic dimension to the longstanding security crisis.
The DRC has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting M23, while Kigali has denied directly backing the group and has cited security concerns involving armed groups operating from Congolese territory.
The latest talks therefore represent another attempt to translate diplomatic commitments into a sustained reduction in fighting on the ground.
The roadmap agreed in Switzerland is expected to provide a structured process for future negotiations, while the planned ceasefire verification mechanism could help the parties establish greater accountability over violations.
Both sides have now committed to continued engagement under the Doha Framework Agreement as regional and international mediators push for an end to the conflict.
