The Government of Qatar has announced that it has sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo and to AFC/M23 a draft agreement to be signed between the two parties, aimed at ending hostilities, after the date that had been scheduled for its signing did not materialize.
This was announced by the Government of Qatar on Sunday, August 17, 2025, just hours before the date that had been set for the signing of the agreement, which was supposed to be on Monday, August 18.
The Qatar authorities also stated that they are ready to host further talks between the Government of the DRC and the AFC/M23 coalition in Doha.
An official from Qatar, who continues to play a mediating role in these talks, said that “sending the draft of this peace agreement between the two parties is in line with continuing the Doha negotiations,” and that “further crucial negotiation meetings” are planned soon.
This comes after the Government of Congo and the AFC/M23 coalition had, on July 19, 2025, signed principles that were to guide the peace agreement expected to be signed on August 18, 2025.
The Government of Qatar announced that the date that had been agreed for the signing did not succeed, but “both parties informed the mediator of being in a positive framework and expressed willingness to continue negotiation talks.”
This Qatar government official added: “We know that there are challenges where problems exist, and we are confident that they can be resolved soon through dialogue and the commitment of both parties.”
The sixth round of talks between the Government of Congo and the AFC/M23 coalition did not succeed, after both parties accused each other of violating the principles they had recently signed.
The spokesperson of AFC/M23, Lawrence Kanyuka, on Sunday also stated that the opposing side continues to violate those principles, by launching attacks in densely populated areas of South Kivu Province, such as Nzimbira and Kanyola.
On the same Sunday, the AFC/M23 spokesperson also issued a statement indicating that the coalition still has the will to continue participating in the Doha negotiations.
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