The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel alliance have agreed on a new roadmap for peace negotiations following five days of talks in Switzerland, even as heavy fighting continues to plague the country’s eastern region.

Delegates from Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 coalition pledged to pursue a comprehensive peace agreement and established a dedicated mechanism to monitor ceasefire violations. The newly outlined roadmap sets sequence steps and timelines under the United States and Qatar-brokered Doha Framework signed late last year.

Despite diplomatic progress, the situation on the ground remains volatile. Key sticking points continue to derail momentum, including unresolved disputes over sanctions targeted at M23 leaders, the release of political detainees, and the timeline for national political reforms.

In an effort to stabilise the fragile truce, the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus is scheduled to launch its first official ceasefire verification mission this Monday in Minembwe, located in South Kivu province, following recent allegations of fresh drone and artillery strikes in the area.

–ChannelAfrica–