KINSHASA, DRC | The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group have signed an agreement in Doha to establish a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, facilitated by Qatar. The move, announced on Tuesday, follows the creation of a prisoner exchange mechanism last month and aims to implement the Declaration of Principles signed by both parties in July.
The mechanism will oversee the permanent ceasefire, investigate violations, and coordinate with relevant parties to prevent a resumption of hostilities, according to Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka described the agreement as “a significant step forward” in building trust and advancing toward a lasting peace deal.
The Doha process, launched in April 2025 under Qatar’s mediation, seeks to resolve conflict after M23 forces re-emerged in late 2021, seizing large parts of North Kivu and South Kivu, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu. The ongoing crisis has left over seven million people displaced and 27.8 million facing food insecurity, according to the United Nations.