Faith Nyasuguta
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have resumed peace talks in Doha, Qatar, in a fresh attempt to halt fighting that has devastated eastern Congo. The negotiations, which began this week, are centered on implementing a truce brokered by Qatar last month.
Despite this agreement – and an earlier deal signed between Kinshasa and Kigali in Washington – clashes have continued in the North and South Kivu provinces, raising doubts about both sides’ commitment to peace.
Qatar’s foreign ministry announced that this round of talks will revolve around a three-phase peace plan put forward by Doha. The plan includes establishing a joint mechanism to monitor the fragile ceasefire, as well as arranging for the exchange of prisoners and detainees. Qatari officials emphasized that the involvement of international partners, including the United States and the International Committee of the Red Cross, is critical in ensuring the deal is enforced.
But the road to peace remains far from smooth. Belgium’s Foreign Minister, who has been following the discussions closely, revealed that Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has expressed dissatisfaction with the current draft proposal. His concerns highlight the difficulty of reaching an agreement acceptable to both sides, given the deep mistrust that defines relations between Kinshasa and M23.
For years, eastern Congo has been plagued by violence fueled by dozens of armed groups, but M23 has emerged as the most formidable. The group, which Kinshasa accuses of receiving support from Rwanda, stunned the region earlier this year with its rapid advances, including a major push into Goma, the capital of North Kivu. The offensive left bodies strewn across streets and forced tens of thousands to flee, deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations estimates that over seven million people are currently displaced within the DRC, calling it “one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.” Camps for internally displaced people in eastern provinces continue to swell, while aid agencies warn of food shortages, disease outbreaks, and widespread insecurity.
For Kinshasa, the peace talks in Doha represent both an opportunity and a risk. President Tshisekedi has faced growing domestic pressure to bring stability to the volatile east, yet critics argue that negotiating with M23 risks legitimizing a rebel group accused of atrocities. For M23, the talks offer a platform to demand political recognition and guarantees that their grievances will be addressed.
Despite the uncertainty, the Qatar-brokered process has been hailed by some diplomats as a rare opening to de-escalate one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts. The inclusion of prisoner exchanges and international monitoring mechanisms is seen as a step toward rebuilding trust, though implementation remains the greatest challenge.
As the talks continue in Doha, the people of eastern Congo remain caught between hope and despair. Each failed agreement has only deepened their suffering. Whether this new attempt will bring relief or simply add another chapter to the cycle of broken truces is a question that hangs heavily over the negotiating table.
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