ISTANBUL

The Democratic Republic of Congo and the AFC/M23 rebel group signed an agreement on the terms of reference for monitoring their ceasefire following talks in Doha, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said.

A ministry statement said late Monday that the discussions took place within the framework of the Ceasefire Oversight and Verification Mechanism, established under the Doha-mediated peace process to end the conflict in eastern Congo.

"The two parties also renewed their commitment to the ceasefire and the Doha Framework Agreement for Peace signed between them on November 15, 2025, and affirmed their determination to implement all obligations stipulated therein in good faith, in support of the peaceful process," the ministry stated.

The talks were also attended by representatives of the US and the African Union (AU) as observers, with Togo participating in its capacity as the AU-appointed mediator.

Peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or MONUSCO, and officials from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region also took part, providing technical expertise on ceasefire monitoring and verification, the ministry said.

Participants reviewed developments on the ground and underscored the importance of implementing practical measures to strengthen oversight, verification, and information-sharing mechanisms, according to the statement.

They also examined plans for deploying field missions, confirming that MONUSCO will dispatch its first team to the eastern city of Uvira, recently retaken by government forces following a withdrawal by the AFC/M23.

Communication channels have been established to ensure the mission operates smoothly in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.

"Based on these discussions, members agreed on subsequent steps to enhance the effectiveness of the mechanism and ensure the continuation of regular meetings within its framework," the ministry said.