The latest negotiations come as fighting spreads to the highlands of South Kivu, with civilians “caught in the middle”.
Published April 16, 2026
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and M23 rebels are holding talks in Switzerland, the latest effort to stop deadly fighting that has persisted despite a December peace deal.
The new round of negotiations between both sides began on Monday, mediated by the United States and Qatar, according to media reports.
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The Congolese government and the AFC/M23 rebel coalition signed an interim peace monitoring mechanism during the talks, Radio France International (RFI) reported on Thursday.
The agreement establishes a body to follow humanitarian and security developments and monitor possible violations of the ceasefire, RFI said.
The mechanism will include representatives of both the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the armed group, with the support of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani, reporting from Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, said the talks are taking place “while the situation on the ground is very fragile”, with both sides accusing each other of violating misleading agreements.
“In the Minembwe area [in South Kivu province]”For example, thousands of civilians are caught in the middle of the battle between different groups,” he said.
People on the ground in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo hope that mediators will pressure both sides to respect a new lasting peace mechanism, after a series of failed agreements, Uaykani added.
“Terrible humanitarian crisis”
The AFC/M23 rebel coalition has seized large swaths of territory in eastern DRC since early 2025, seizing key cities including Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, whose country has been accused of backing the M23 rebels, signed a “historic” peace and economic agreement in Washington, DC, in December aimed at ending the fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Separate peace talks, mediated by Qatar, have also been held between the DRC and the M23.
Despite peace efforts, clashes have continued and also broke out almost immediately after the signing of the December agreement. More recently, fighting has reached the mountainous areas of South Kivu, according to media reports.
In a statement on Tuesday, Human Rights Watch accused the warring parties of blocking aid deliveries and preventing civilians from fleeing the South Kivu highlands.
“Civilians in the South Kivu highlands face a serious humanitarian crisis and live in fear of abuse from all sides,” said Clementine de Montjoye, senior Great Lakes researcher at Human Rights Watch.
“More attention needs to be paid to this under-reported conflict or this bad situation will get even worse.”
