Doha Peace Talks Between DR Congo and AFC/M23 Could Resume

Peace talks in Doha between representatives of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the AFC/M23 coalition may resume later this weekend, according to diplomatic sources.

The negotiations, mediated by the State of Qatar, had been suspended since early December 2025 following renewed fighting in South Kivu Province, which culminated in the capture of Uvira city by AFC/M23 after a week-long confrontation in the Ruzizi Plain.

Talks Stalled After Renewed Fighting

The Doha talks were halted after AFC/M23 took control of Uvira, escalating tensions and undermining a previously agreed ceasefire.

Qatar, which is leading the mediation process, later invited both parties to attend a meeting aimed at reviewing the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. While AFC/M23 sent its delegation, the DRC government declined to participate, causing further delays.

Qatar Pushes for Talks After Withdrawal from Uvira

After AFC/M23 withdrew all its fighters from Uvira on January 17, 2026, Qatar renewed diplomatic efforts to bring both sides back to the negotiating table.

According to Jeune Afrique, representatives from Qatar, the United States, and other international partners held a virtual preparatory meeting on January 27 to discuss the resumption of the peace process.

New Round of Talks Scheduled

Qatar has officially invited both the DRC government and AFC/M23 to participate in renewed peace talks scheduled to take place between January 31 and February 1, 2026, in Doha.

Sources cited by Jeune Afrique report that a senior AFC/M23 official confirmed the group’s readiness to send its delegation to Qatar. The DRC government has also reportedly agreed to dispatch its representatives.

Focus on Ceasefire Monitoring and Confidence-Building

The upcoming talks are expected to focus on activating the ceasefire monitoring mechanism and discussing measures aimed at rebuilding trust between the two sides, which has been severely strained by recent hostilities.

Observers see the possible resumption of the Doha talks as a critical step toward de-escalating violence in eastern DR Congo, a region that has experienced decades of armed conflict.