Doha: The Democratic Republic of Congo and the AFC/M23 rebel group have signed an agreement on the terms for monitoring their ceasefire, following discussions in Doha. This announcement was made by the Qatari Foreign Ministry.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry explained that the discussions were part of the Ceasefire Oversight and Verification Mechanism, a component of the peace process mediated in Doha to resolve the conflict in eastern Congo. Both parties reiterated their commitment to the ceasefire and the Doha Framework Agreement for Peace, initially signed on November 15, 2025, pledging to fulfill their obligations to support the peace process.

The talks included representatives from the US and the African Union (AU) as observers, with Togo serving as the AU-appointed mediator. Peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and officials from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region also participated, offering technical expertise for ceasefire monitoring and verification.

Participants reviewed the situation on the ground and highlighted the need for practical measures to enhance oversight, verification, and information-sharing mechanisms. Plans for deploying field missions were also discussed, with confirmation that MONUSCO will send its first team to Uvira, a city recently retaken by government forces after the AFC/M23's withdrawal.

Communication channels have been established to ensure smooth operations of the mission under the ceasefire agreement. The ministry stated that members agreed on further steps to improve the mechanism's effectiveness and maintain regular meetings within its framework.