Congo’s government and the M23 rebel group agreed on ceasefire monitoring terms in Doha, reaffirming their commitment to the Qatar-mediated peace process.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Alliance Fleuve Congo / March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) have agreed on the terms of reference for monitoring their ceasefire, following talks hosted by Qatar.

The discussions were part of the Ceasefire Oversight and Verification Mechanism, a framework established under the Doha-mediated peace process to end the conflict in eastern Congo.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire and to the Doha Framework Agreement for Peace, originally signed in November 2025.

In a statement, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had pledged to “implement all obligations stipulated therein in good faith, in support of the peaceful process.”

The meeting included representatives from the United States and the African Union as observers, with Togo acting as the AU-appointed mediator.

UN peacekeepers from MONUSCO and officials from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region also participated, contributing expertise on monitoring and verification.

Delegates discussed developments on the ground and stressed the need for practical steps to strengthen oversight and information sharing.

They reviewed plans for deploying field missions, confirming that MONUSCO will send its first team to Uvira, a strategic city in eastern Congo that was recently recaptured by government forces following an AFC/M23 withdrawal.

Communication channels have been set up to ensure the mission operates smoothly in line with the ceasefire agreement.

The mechanism’s members agreed on further measures to improve its effectiveness and maintain regular coordination meetings.