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M23 rebels suspend peace talks with DR Congo government

The March 23 Movement (M23) has paused peace talks with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), sending no representatives to Qatar for the resumption of negotiations on Monday as its spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka told the BBC's Great Lakes service that Kinshasa "doesn't want peace."

The March 23 Movement (M23) has paused peace talks with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), sending no representatives to Qatar for the resumption of negotiations on Monday as its spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka told the BBC's Great Lakes service that Kinshasa "doesn't want peace."

This means that the two parties have missed the deadline agreed under the framework of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/congo-and-m-rebels-sign-peace-deal-in-qatar">Declaration of Principles signed last month in Doha</a> to strike a peace deal, with the start of a new round of talks delayed for 10 days now.

This means that the two parties have missed the deadline agreed under the framework of the Declaration of Principles signed last month in Doha to strike a peace deal, with the start of a new round of talks delayed for 10 days now.

Kanyuka said in a statement on Sunday that the M23 would return to the negotiating table only when the July 19 declaration is fully implemented, including the release of prisoners. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that a Congolese official said that the release of prisoners is a complicated prerequisite.

Kanyuka said in a statement on Sunday that the M23 would return to the negotiating table only when the July 19 declaration is fully implemented, including the release of prisoners. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that a Congolese official said that the release of prisoners is a complicated prerequisite.

This comes as both sides have reinforced their positions in North and South Kivu while accusing each other of violating the ceasefire as talks stalled, with reports of clashes near Walikale, Rutshuru and Katana in North Kivu, and near Walungu and Bukavu and Mulamba in South Kivu over the past days.

This comes as both sides have reinforced their positions in North and South Kivu while accusing each other of violating the ceasefire as talks stalled, with reports of clashes near Walikale, Rutshuru and Katana in North Kivu, and near Walungu and Bukavu and Mulamba in South Kivu over the past days.

The Doha peace process began in April in parallel with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/rwanda-dr-congo-sign-usbrokered-peace-deal-amid-court-case">U.S.-brokered peace agreement that the DRC and Rwanda</a>, which denies allegations of supporting the M23, signed in Washington, D.C., on June 27.

The Doha peace process began in April in parallel with the U.S.-brokered peace agreement that the DRC and Rwanda, which denies allegations of supporting the M23, signed in Washington, D.C., on June 27.

The security situation in eastern DRC has deteriorated since January with new surges of violence in a long-running war. According to the U.N., more than two million people have fled violence in North and South Kivu so far this year.

The security situation in eastern DRC has deteriorated since January with new surges of violence in a long-running war. According to the U.N., more than two million people have fled violence in North and South Kivu so far this year.

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The March 23 Movement (M23) has paused peace talks with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, sending no representatives to Qatar for the resumption of negotiations on Monday as its spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka told the BBC's Great Lakes service that Kinshasa "doesn't want peace."

The March 23 Movement (M23) has paused peace talks with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, sending no representatives to Qatar for the resumption of negotiations on Monday as its spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka told the BBC's Great Lakes service that Kinshasa "doesn't want peace."

This means that the two parties have missed the deadline agreed under the framework of the Declaration of Principles signed last month in Doha to strike a peace deal, with the start of a new round of talks delayed for 10 days now.

The Congolese army accused M23 of launching "almost daily attacks" on army positions in North and South Kivu provinces, while M23 accused government forces of continued offensive military maneuvers and systematic attacks on populated areas.</span

The Congolese army accused M23 of launching "almost daily attacks" on army positions in North and South Kivu provinces, while M23 accused government forces of continued offensive military maneuvers and systematic attacks on populated areas.

A Qatari official confirmed that a draft peace agreement has been shared with both the DRC government and M23 rebels, with Qatar currently hosting negotiations aimed at following up on the Declaration of Principles implementation and finalizing an agreement.</span

A Qatari official confirmed that a draft peace agreement has been shared with both the DRC government and M23 rebels, with Qatar currently hosting negotiations aimed at following up on the Declaration of Principles implementation and finalizing an agreement.

More than 2 million people have fled violence in North and South Kivu provinces since January 2025, according to United Nations reports, with the conflict causing widespread displacement and humanitarian crisis in the mineral-rich eastern region.</span

More than 2 million people have fled violence in North and South Kivu provinces since January 2025, according to United Nations reports, with the conflict causing widespread displacement and humanitarian crisis in the mineral-rich eastern region.

Kinshasa's military buildup and attacks are treated as legitimate state authority while M23 counteroffensives get labeled ceasefire violations. The government refused dialogue for three years until M23 seized major cities, yet now demands rebel withdrawal as a peace precondition. Kinshasa hasn't implemented the Doha declaration it signed but will blame M23 for any process collapse.

Kinshasa's military buildup and attacks are treated as legitimate state authority while M23 counteroffensives get labeled ceasefire violations. The government refused dialogue for three years until M23 seized major cities, yet now demands rebel withdrawal as a peace precondition. Kinshasa hasn't implemented the Doha declaration it signed but will blame M23 for any process collapse.

The Rwanda-backed M23 militia launched multiple attacks on Congolese army positions, violating the Washington peace deal and Doha declaration of principles with almost daily assaults. UN human rights chief accused M23 of killing at least 319 civilians in July with Rwandan army backing. The rebels captured strategic cities and installed their own administrations while deepening the humanitarian crisis.

The Rwanda-backed M23 militia launched multiple attacks on Congolese army positions, violating the Washington peace deal and Doha declaration of principles with almost daily assaults. UN human rights chief accused M23 of killing at least 319 civilians in July with Rwandan army backing. The rebels captured strategic cities and installed their own administrations while deepening the humanitarian crisis.

The Eastern Congo Conflict

BBC: M23 Pauses Peace Talks With DRC

*** GETTY *** Kang-Chun Cheng/AFP/Getty Images

BBC: M23 Pauses Peace Talks With DRC

Armed conflict

Democratic Republic of Congo

This is not a surprise as the rebels want anything but peace in eastern DRC. The Rwanda-backed M23 militia has launched almost daily assaults on Congolese army positions, in blatant breaches of both the Washington peace deal and Doha declaration of principles. On top of that, the rebels have killed at least 319 civilians in July with Rwandan army backing.

This is not a surprise as the rebels want anything but peace in eastern DRC. The Rwanda-backed M23 militia has launched almost daily assaults on Congolese army positions, in blatant breaches of both the Washington peace deal and Doha declaration of principles. On top of that, the rebels have killed at least 319 civilians in July with Rwandan army backing.

There's no sense in treating Kinshasa's military buildup and attacks as legitimate state authority while labeling M23 counteroffensives ceasefire violations. The DRC refused dialogue for years until M23 seized major cities, yet now demands rebel withdrawal as a peace precondition — even without implementing the Doha declaration — only to blame M23 for any process collapse.

There's no sense in treating Kinshasa's military buildup and attacks as legitimate state authority while labeling M23 counteroffensives ceasefire violations. The DRC refused dialogue for years until M23 seized major cities, yet now demands rebel withdrawal as a peace precondition — even without implementing the Doha declaration — only to blame M23 for any process collapse.

There's a 59% chance that the Democratic Republic of Congo will experience a civil war before 2036, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 59% chance that the Democratic Republic of Congo will experience a civil war before 2036, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

M23 Pauses Peace Talks With DRC

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