Sema Fonkem 19/08/2025

Leaders of March 23 (M23) rebel group also known as Congolese Revolutionary Army have decided to walk away from the US-Qatari led peace talks with the government of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC-Gov) due to non-negotiable terms.

M23 insist that for a new ceasefire agreement to be reached, DRC-Gov must abide to the previous agreement of March 23 2009 which states that members of M23 must be integrated into government and all prisoners released. 

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been facing instability in the east since early 1990s when refugees from Rwandan civil war moved to the region. Their migration caused many conflicts between different armed groups. 

The recent conflict began in early 2022 and escalated in January 2025 when M23 rebels captured most of the mineral-rich eastern DRC including the regional capital Goma.

DRC-Gov has accused M23 rebels of ambushing its army positions in the east to undermine the peace talk process going on in Doha.

According to Majed al-Ansari, Spokesperson for Qatari foreign ministry, while both parties are facing difficulties to bring a permanent end to the armed conflict, Qatar will continue to assist them in engaging positively until a resolution is found. 

On the 27 June 2025, DRC-Gov and Rwandan representatives met in Washington D.C where they signed a peace deal known as the Washington Accord or “Glorious Triumph” as described by president Donald Trump.

The Washington agreement states that Rwanda will withdraw its troops from eastern DRC within 90 days and the DRC-Gov will end support for Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia. More so, an economic integration framework will be formed between both governments under US supervision.

Rwanda continues to deny any involvement in the conflict. The government says its troops are only in the region to protect their shared border.

M23 says they are not part of the agreement between Rwanda, USA and DRC as it does not include their proposals and the March 23 2009 agreement.