Crisis in the DRC : the first agreement reached between the AFC-M23 and Kinshasa

SOS Médias Burundi

Goma, October 14, 2025 — After several weeks of tense talks, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel movement reached a major milestone on Tuesday, October 14, in Doha, Qatar.

The two delegations announced that they had reached an agreement on the establishment of a ceasefire verification mechanism, intended to monitor hostilities in the east of the country, particularly in the North Kivu territories, where clashes continue despite calls for a truce.

This sixth round of talks, conducted under the Qatari facilitation, aims to establish a technical monitoring framework and build trust between the parties, following the failure of previous regional mediation efforts.

According to several sources familiar with the matter, the mechanism’s mission will be to document and report any ceasefire violations, while also serving as a basis for future discussions on a gradual withdrawal of rebel forces from occupied areas. Although the detailed content of the mechanism has not yet been made public, diplomatic observers believe it could involve the joint participation of international experts, representatives of the Congolese government, and facilitating countries, including Qatar and certain members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Context of mistrust and regional issues

This development comes amid deep mistrust between Kinshasa and the M23, a movement suspected of being supported by Rwanda.

The M23, a former Tutsi rebel group that took up arms again in late 2021, accuses the Congolese authorities of failing to honor their reintegration commitments. Since the beginning of the year, its rebels, affiliated with the Congo River Alliance (CFA), have controlled several strategic mineral-rich towns in the provinces of North and South Kivu, as well as the capitals of both Kivus.

Congolese authorities accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23, while UN experts estimate that Rwanda has deployed at least 4,000 troops to support the rebels, a claim Kigali categorically rejects.

Reactions and outlook

The international community welcomed this cautious agreement, while calling for its swift implementation.

The head of the Congolese delegation stated that Kinshasa “wants to see concrete actions on the ground before any new concessions,” while the M23 spokesperson affirmed that the movement “remains open to a fair and balanced peace.”

If this agreement were to be implemented, it could constitute a first step towards military de-escalation in a region ravaged by decades of war and instability.