DR Congo and M23 have agreed on a sequenced roadmap for negotiations following talks held in Switzerland from August 17 to 21. A joint statement published August 23, 2026, by Switzerland confirmed the parties' commitment to the existing Doha Framework Agreement. The agreement follows a prior U.S.-brokered deal last year after which fighting continued.
“DR Congo, M23 fighters agree roadmap for peace talks: joint statement”
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The agreement represents a modest step away from violence in eastern Congo through multilateral diplomacy involving Switzerland, the US, Qatar, the AU and Togo.
“Emphasizes protection of civilians, humanitarian crisis, mineral exploitation by international interests, and risks of sidelining civil society in elite bargains.”
The Swiss-hosted roadmap highlights repeated failure of multilateral diplomacy despite a prior U.S.-brokered Doha deal that did not halt fighting after M23 seized territory.
“Stresses governance failures in Kinshasa, Rwanda's self-interested regional role, and limits of international facilitation without enforcement or bilateral leverage.”
The commitment to talks rather than continued fighting reduces immediate coercion and aligns with resolving disputes through voluntary agreement instead of force.
“Highlights concerns over heavy external state mediation and proxy involvement while noting that property rights remain undefined amid multiple armed actors.”
All three perspectives accept the Doha Framework and new roadmap as legitimate progress despite the prior deal's failure to stop hostilities.
“Points out uncritical acceptance of the 'Rwanda-backed proxy' label, underweighting of local grievances and DRC governance failures, and omission of how perpetual low-intensity conflict benefits elites and states.”
Ratings by MBFC