Peace negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group have resumed in Doha, Qatar, amid ongoing violence in the mineral-rich eastern provinces. The talks aim to implement a July ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar, which includes a three-phase roadmap: establishing a truce monitoring mechanism, exchanging prisoners and detainees, and restoring state authority in North and South Kivu.

Despite parallel diplomatic efforts in Washington, where the U.S. facilitated a separate deal between Kinshasa and Kigali, fighting has continued unabated. The United Nations estimates that over 7 million people have been displaced, calling the crisis “one of the most protracted, complex, and serious humanitarian emergencies on Earth”.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari confirmed that both delegations remain in Doha, working to salvage the agreement. The original deadlines—August 8 for talks to begin and August 18 for a final accord—have passed without resolution. President Félix Tshisekedi has expressed dissatisfaction with the draft text, while Kinshasa and M23 continue to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.

The M23, considered the most active armed group in the region, launched a major offensive earlier this year, seizing control of Goma and later Bukavu. Human Rights Watch recently accused the group of ethnically targeted mass killings, while UN experts have cited Rwanda’s military support as “critical” to M23’s operations.

The conflict’s mineral dimension looms large. The Washington agreement reportedly opened access for U.S. companies to critical resources in eastern Congo, while Rwanda’s alleged backing of M23 reflects deeper regional power dynamics. The rebel group itself rejected the Kinshasa-Kigali deal, demanding direct negotiations to address unresolved political grievances.

Qatar’s proposal includes international oversight and coordination with UN peacekeepers (MONUSCO) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to ensure the “voluntary and dignified” return of displaced populations. However, the lack of concrete progress and continued hostilities have left civilians trapped in a cycle of displacement, violence, and uncertainty.

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