Peace Hopes Fade as M23 Rebels Accuse Kinshasa of Violating Ceasefire
Though President Félix Tshisekedi has suggested that peace talks between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 rebels could soon yield an agreement, the rebel movement insists that ceasefire violations and a lack of clear dialogue mechanisms remain major obstacles to a lasting deal.
The Declaration of Principles signed on July 19 in Doha, Qatar, emphasized a permanent ceasefire as the cornerstone for confidence-building and the foundation of a future peace agreement. Yet, observers warn that renewed hostilities in eastern DR Congo continue to endanger the Qatar-led peace process.
During his visit to Egypt on November 2, Tshisekedi told Congolese nationals that “the conclusion of this agreement” was necessary before his expected meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., where leaders plan to endorse the Doha and Washington accords.
A fragile peace process
On October 14, Kinshasa and AFC/M23 signed a ceasefire monitoring agreement in Qatar after the sixth round of peace talks, establishing a joint verification team that was to be operational by October 21. However, according to AFC/M23 spokesperson Oscar Balinda, little progress has been made.
“The ceasefire monitoring team has not been established as agreed,” Balinda told The New Times on November 3. “Kinshasa continues its military operations in eastern DR Congo — bombing populated areas and attacking our positions to retake zones under our control.”
He added that there has been no official communication from the mediator regarding Tshisekedi’s announcement of a new round of talks. “We remain in Doha and ready for discussions, but the permanent ceasefire must first be fully implemented,” he said.
Balinda also mentioned that the mediation process includes five newly designed protocols but noted that “no progress has been achieved even on the first one.”
Uncertain prospects if fighting continues
Balinda cited remarks from the group’s political leader, Corneille Nanga: “If the government continues to attack civilians and our positions, it means the Doha peace process is meaningless.”
He accused the Congolese government of repeatedly violating ceasefire terms and lacking the political will to implement agreements. “They continue recruiting mercenaries, deploying new troops, bombing civilians with Sukhoi jets, and using warships on Lake Tanganyika,” he said.
Experts weigh in
Fatuma Ndangiza, a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), said that without consistent political commitment, Qatar’s mediation would achieve little. “Signing agreements and giving speeches are not enough — both sides must act in good faith,” she said.
Ndangiza noted that while the Congolese negotiation team has shown some willingness, President Tshisekedi himself “has repeatedly delayed progress at critical stages.” She stressed that peace in DR Congo is essential for regional stability, particularly for Rwanda and the Great Lakes region.
“With or without mediators, Congo’s leadership must stop blaming others and address the real causes of instability,” she added. “There’s a governance vacuum that needs to be filled once and for all.”
She also criticized international actors who, for political or economic reasons, have failed to hold Kinshasa accountable. “As long as the crisis persists, no one’s interests — regional or global — will be secure,” she said.
M23: “We remain committed to dialogue”
Despite ongoing clashes, Balinda reaffirmed the group’s commitment to peace. “We’ve taken part in talks in Uganda, Nairobi, Burundi, Luanda, and now Doha. We remain determined to find a peaceful solution,” he said.
He further accused President Tshisekedi of exploiting the war to consolidate power. “He lost two elections and now uses the conflict to portray himself as a wartime leader,” Balinda claimed.
The path to peace in eastern Congo remains uncertain — caught between promises of dialogue and the realities of continued conflict.
