The Democratic Republic of Congo and rebels of the March 23 Movement/Congo River Alliance rebels have signed a framework agreement aimed at organizing the continuation of negotiations with a view to reaching a comprehensive peace agreement.
The agreement was signed on Saturday evening in Qatar’s capital, Doha where peace talks between two parties are ongoing. Qatar’s ministry of foreign affairs released a statement late in the night confirming the development.
According to Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry, this is not yet a final text, but a framework document that sets out the methodology and timeline for upcoming discussions. The framework agreement provides for the development of a series of specific protocols, several of which still need to be negotiated within two weeks of signing.
Protocols to be discussed include; release of prisoners, monitoring and verification of the ceasefire through a tripartite body, humanitarian access and judicial protection prioritizing civilians, especially women, children, and displaced persons, restoration of state authority, political reforms, and participatory governance, interim security arrangements and DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration), return, resettlement, and citizenship for refugees and internally displaced persons, economic recovery and social services: education, health, infrastructure and justice, truth, and reconciliation to overcome the conflict’s traumas.
The agreement also emphasizes resolving the root causes of the conflict, including: the fight against discrimination, strengthening national unity and the establishment of inclusive governance, integrating all components of society. Democratic Republic of Congo government has also released a statement welcoming the development but insisting that the listed protocols will be technically detailed in the coming weeks, particularly regarding timelines and commitments. According to the DR Congo government, this process must not remain a status quo; the goal is real and measurable change for the populations of the East of the country.
M23/AFC rebels through their political spokesperson Lawlence Kanyuka also released a short statement confirming signing of the agreement but punching holes into it as he accuses DR Congo government of violating it immediately in the form of launching attacks on the front lines.
Benjamin Mbonimpa, the Executive Secretary of the M23/AFC rebels also says there will be neither any modification of the situation on the ground nor any activity whatsoever until the protocols are debated, negotiated, and discussed one after the other until the final conclusion of a peace agreement adding that the road is still long.
It also remains unclear if the agreement will be respected since tension has remained high on the ground as belligerents remain on alert to fight. In early October 2025, the two parties also signed the Ceasefire Monitoring and Verification Mechanism as one of the steps towards implementation of the peace process in the war-torn eastern part of the country. Under the facilitation of Qatar, the mechanism was signed in presence of representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the AFC/M23, as well as observers from Qatar, the United States, the African Union, the ICGLR (through the MCVE), and MONUSCO. But a few days after signing, fierce fighting resumed on the fronts as both parties traded accusations of violations.
M23 rebels control the majority of areas in North and South Kivu provinces, including Goma, Bukavu cities, Goma international airport and Kavumu airport. Since the resumption of the M23 insurgency in 2022, led by Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, the DRC government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting M23, a claim that both Rwanda and M23 deny.
The rebels assert that their fight is against corruption, xenophobia and discrimination within the DR Congo’s leadership.
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