Cyprus News Agency

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a joint statement on the meetings held in Switzerland between representatives of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and representatives of the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23).

According to the statement, the meetings were held from August 17 to 21, 2026, within the framework of the Doha Process. In addition to representatives of the DRC Government and AFC/M23, the State of Qatar, the United States, the African Union, the Republic of Togo as the African Union mediator, the African Union Commission and Switzerland participated in the talks.

The meetings reviewed progress achieved and challenges encountered so far under the Doha Process, while also addressing the implementation of existing obligations and commitments and the negotiation of the remaining protocols under the Doha Framework for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Doha on November 15, 2025, between the DRC Government and AFC/M23.

The parties welcomed the progress made toward operationalizing the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+).

In this context, the establishment of the EJVM+ Secretariat and the mechanism's exploratory mission were also discussed. It was stated that the exploratory mission was carried out on August 20 with logistical support from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

This work was carried out ahead of the first EJVM+ ceasefire verification mission, scheduled to take place in Minembwe on August 24.

The parties also agreed on the importance of establishing a standardized method for reporting alleged ceasefire violations.

During the meetings, an agreement was reached to establish a new mechanism to regularly assess progress in implementing the obligations and commitments undertaken by the parties under the Doha Framework Agreement and to address challenges encountered.

Following the assessments, the parties developed a roadmap setting out the sequential steps and timelines for negotiations under the Doha Framework Agreement.

The parties also committed to maintaining flexibility and creativity within the existing structure of the Framework Agreement.

The joint statement noted that the parties had also reached agreement on an important issue.

Accordingly, it was agreed that the order in which the protocols are negotiated would not determine the order in which those protocols are implemented.

The parties also reaffirmed their commitment to continuing negotiations toward comprehensive peace and the resolution of the conflict through implementation of the Doha Framework Agreement.

The parties also shared their proposals with one another within the facilitation framework, with the aim of continuing constructive negotiations and clarifying the way forward.

These proposals were intended to encourage implementation of the commitments undertaken by the parties and advance the peace process under the Doha Framework.

Representatives of the DRC Government and AFC/M23 thanked the State of Qatar, the United States, the Republic of Togo as the African Union mediator, Switzerland and the African Union Commission for their steadfast support for advancing peace and stability in eastern DRC and the broader Great Lakes region.