DRC: No peace agreement between Kinshasa and M23 despite Qatar’s mediation
Kinshasa, August 18, 2025 – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel movement failed to meet Monday’s deadline to conclude a peace agreement, despite a month of mediation efforts led by Qatar.
On July 18, both parties had signed a declaration of principles in Doha, intended to pave the way for more substantive negotiations. Yet, as the agreed deadline expired, no concrete compromise had been reached.
In the days leading up to the deadline, M23 accused the Congolese government of repeated ceasefire violations, claiming the army continued its offensives. “Government forces are still carrying out attacks despite the agreement,” said the group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka.
Kinshasa, however, rejects these allegations, blaming the rebels for near-daily raids in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, which have worsened the already chronic insecurity in eastern Congo.
A Qatari official, quoted by Reuters, noted that both sides had reiterated their commitment to continue dialogue, leaving the door open to renewed talks in the coming weeks.
The situation remains highly concerning in eastern Congo, a region rich in strategic minerals. In January, the M23 seized large swathes of territory, including areas around the regional capital Goma, marking a major escalation in the conflict.
According to the United Nations, the fighting has already claimed thousands of lives and forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes, further deepening the humanitarian crisis gripping the region.
