A fresh round of peace talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group has opened in Doha, as both sides attempt to salvage a fragile truce brokered by Qatar last month. The negotiations come despite ongoing clashes in North and South Kivu provinces, where government forces and rebels continue to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. Qatar’s foreign ministry said the latest discussions center on a draft proposal for a three-phase peace process. The plan includes setting up a joint monitoring mechanism, organizing prisoner exchanges, and creating a framework for political dialogue. The United States and the International Committee of the Red Cross are also participating as facilitators.
But tensions remain high. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib told reporters that Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has voiced “serious reservations” about the Qatari text, raising doubts about whether Kinshasa will sign off on the deal. The M23 rebel movement, widely believed to be supported by Rwanda despite Kigali’s denials, has emerged as the most powerful armed group in eastern Congo’s decades-long conflict. Its fighters staged a major advance into Goma earlier this year, leaving civilians dead and thousands displaced.
The United Nations says nearly 7 million people have now been uprooted by the violence, calling the DRC crisis “one of the most protracted, complex, and severe humanitarian emergencies in the world.” Observers warn that without progress in Doha, the fighting risks spiraling further, threatening regional stability and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.
