The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebels have agreed to a roadmap for peace talks. Mediated by Switzerland and the US State Department, the roadmap establishes steps and timelines to end fighting in the mineral-rich eastern DRC, a region plagued by years of conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions.
As part of the agreement, a ceasefire verification mission arrived in South Kivu on Monday. The deployment includes representatives from the DRC government, the AFC/M23 group, and observers from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region member nations. Both sides have also agreed on the importance of a standardized method for reporting allegations of ceasefire violations.
This development follows a previous agreement signed in Doha last year, though fighting continued despite that effort. While the new roadmap sets out conditions for peace, the process remains fragile. Disagreements regarding the M23 rebels, the role of Rwanda, and ongoing security concerns persist and could still derail the process.