The Congolese government and M23 rebels failed to meet Monday’s deadline to reach a peace agreement in Doha, raising fears that tensions could derail negotiations and undo progress toward ending the conflict in eastern Congo.
The missed deadline comes after weeks of intensified fighting in the region, where the M23 launched an offensive that allowed it to capture the two largest cities in eastern Congo earlier this year.
Mediation efforts hosted by Qatar had produced a declaration of principles on July 19 in which both sides agreed to begin talks by August 8 and conclude a deal by August 18. But progress has stalled, with each side accusing the other of failing to uphold commitments.
The AFC-M23 Movement said in a statement on Sunday that only the full implementation of the declaration, including the release of prisoners, would allow negotiations to continue. A senior rebel source added on Monday that while little progress was expected, the group would send a small delegation to Doha in the coming days in response to Qatari pressure. “Our delegation will simply reinforce the need to implement these measures before we can engage in negotiations,” the source said.
Congolese officials confirmed they had received a draft agreement from the mediation team and were preparing comments before delegates return to Doha later this week. A government source noted, however, that the release of prisoners remained a contentious issue, calling it “a matter for negotiation, not a precondition for talks.”
A Qatari official told reporters that while the timeline had not been met, both sides had shown willingness to continue dialogue.
The delay underscores the fragile nature of the peace process, with the risk that renewed clashes could overtake diplomacy if confidence-building measures remain stalled.
