By Horn Africa News
GOMA – The rebel group March 23 Movement (M23) confirmed on Friday that it has dispatched a delegation to Doha, the capital of Qatar, for limited talks with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Speaking at a press conference in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province and under M23 control since late January, the group’s political leader Bertrand Bisimwa said the two-member delegation was tasked “only with discussing the mechanisms for a ceasefire and the release of prisoners.”
Talks between Kinshasa and M23 resumed this week under Qatari mediation, after earlier deadlines were missed. According to Radio Okapi, a UN-backed outlet in the DRC, both sides signed a Declaration of Principles in Doha on July 19, which outlined a timetable for peace negotiations to begin by August 8 and conclude by August 18. The deadline passed without progress, but Qatar has since circulated a draft agreement to both parties.
“When we finish this stage, we can move on to something else,” Bisimwa said, while acknowledging “blockages” in the Doha process. M23 has previously demanded the release of its detained members before broader peace talks can proceed.
The DRC government has not yet responded to M23’s latest remarks but has reiterated its “firm commitment” to constructive dialogue while emphasizing its determination to defend national sovereignty and restore lasting peace in the east. Both sides have accused each other of violating the Doha ceasefire.
Since January, the security situation in eastern DRC has worsened significantly, with M23 capturing several key towns, including Goma and Bukavu, aggravating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
According to the United Nations, more than 27.8 million people in the DRC face food insecurity, while over seven million are internally displaced—many multiple times—as fighting continues.
