Doha Roadmap for Peace: DRC and Rwanda‑backed M23 Sign Non‑Binding Framework

Doha Roadmap for Peace Signed by DRC and Rwanda‑backed M23

The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda‑backed M23 militia signed a new peace framework in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday aimed at halting the fighting that has devastated eastern DRC. The accord, called the Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, was brokered with the help of mediators including Qatar, the United States and the African Union.

The document lays out eight chapters addressing what mediators describe as the "root causes" of the conflict. Two of the eight protocols—establishing a ceasefire monitoring mechanism—have already been signed; the remaining topics include humanitarian access, the return of displaced people and protection of the judiciary.

Benjamin Mbonimpa, speaking for the M23 delegation in Doha, warned the text contains "no binding clauses" and said it would not immediately change "the situation on the ground."

The Congolese government said the framework "aims to create, in the shortest time possible, the conditions for a real and measurable change for the people," and highlighted commitments such as the mutual release of prisoners and agreed mechanisms for monitoring the ceasefire.

U.S. envoy to Africa Massad Boulos told AFP that implementation is "the most important aspect," noting that multiple mechanisms have been established to oversee different elements of the agreement.

Since resuming operations at the end of 2021, the M23—widely reported to have Rwandan backing—has seized large swathes of eastern DRC, contributing to a deepening humanitarian crisis. A rapid M23 offensive in January–February captured key provincial capitals, including Goma and Bukavu, and thousands were reported killed in that period.

Other armed groups remain active in the region. Officials told AFP that an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group formed by former Ugandan rebels which pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2019, killed at least 18 people in a village roughly 300 kilometres north of Goma.

The Doha framework follows earlier efforts: a July ceasefire framework signed in Doha and a separate June agreement between the DRC and Rwanda reached in Washington. Kinshasa has demanded the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory, while Kigali conditions any withdrawal on the dismantling of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group made up of former Rwandan genocide perpetrators sheltering in the DRC.

Qatar's chief negotiator, Mohammed Al‑Khulaifi, described the accord as "historic," and mediators say their work will continue to try to translate the roadmap into durable peace on the ground. Observers caution, however, that the deal's non‑binding character and persistent mistrust between parties mean successful implementation will require sustained international engagement and strong monitoring.