M23-DR Congo peace talks in Doha stalled: What next?

The rebel group M23 and the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have failed to sign a final peace accord scheduled for Monday after the rebels accused the Congolese army of breaking an earlier agreement intended to lead to a full peace deal.

Monday’s scheduled talks were part of a series of negotiations mediated by Qatar. Both sides were required to be in Doha to sign what was supposed to be a concluding peace pact.
However, the M23 announced on Sunday, the eve of the signing, that its representatives were not in Doha as agreed, raising fears among analysts that the talks might be derailed altogether.

On Monday, the group appeared to walk back its decision, promising to send representatives in the coming days.

The DRC has been mired in conflict with the Rwanda-backed M23 for several years. In December 2023, the armed group merged with another militia, the Congo River Alliance (AFC), and is also referred to as AFC-M23.

Fighting escalated significantly in January after the group seized vast swaths of territory in mineral-rich eastern DRC, including the regional capital, Goma. Despite agreeing to secure peace, violence has continued on the ground, with more than 300 people killed in an assault last week.

Here’s what to know about the M23, who backs them, and the Doha peace agreement:

What is the Doha peace agreement?
It’s an agreement between the M23 and, to a lesser extent, Rwanda, on the one hand, and the DRC on the other. Rwanda is accused of backing the rebels by Kinshasa, a United Nations Expert Group, and the United States.