DRC, M23 resume talks in Switzerland to push peace deal

The Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels resumed a new round of peace talks in Switzerland on Monday, in the latest effort to revive a stalled process aimed at ending violence in the country’s east. The negotiations mark a fresh phase in a dialogue that had previously been held in Doha, with both sides returning to the table nearly nine months after signing a declaration of principles meant to pave the way for a final agreement.

The talks are expected to focus on practical next steps, including humanitarian access, civilian protection, prisoner exchanges, and the disarmament and reintegration of fighters. The question of ceasefire monitoring also remains central after earlier commitments failed to produce lasting calm on the ground.

The July 19, 2025 declaration signed under Qatari mediation committed the parties to work toward a broader peace agreement, with the United States publicly welcoming that framework at the time.  More recently, the UN said previous Doha discussions had produced terms for a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, even as insecurity in eastern DRC remained volatile.

This latest round also reflects a shift in the diplomatic format. Reports in recent days indicated that upcoming meetings between Kinshasa and M23 would move to Switzerland, while broader international involvement around the process continues to grow.  

That wider push matters because fighting in North Kivu and South Kivu has continued despite repeated ceasefire calls, leaving negotiators under pressure to turn past commitments into measurable progress.

For Kinshasa, the negotiations are another attempt to convert diplomacy into concrete security gains. For M23, they are a chance to press unresolved demands that have lingered since the earlier agreement, including security arrangements and implementation guarantees.

Whether the Switzerland round produces a breakthrough may depend less on new declarations than on whether both sides can agree on enforceable steps.