Qatar has shared a draft peace agreement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group under the ongoing Doha peace process, despite missed deadlines set in the July 19 Doha Declaration of Principles.
A Qatari official confirmed that while the timeline for signing was not met, both parties had shown willingness to continue negotiations and expressed optimism that on-the-ground challenges could be addressed through dialogue and genuine engagement. The declaration, signed after a US-brokered peace deal between Congo and Rwanda, committed both sides to a permanent ceasefire and outlined steps such as prisoner releases.
The process has faced hurdles, with the Congolese government rejecting M23’s demand for the immediate release of over 700 prisoners, instead insisting on case-by-case amnesty. Meanwhile, M23, which controls large swathes of eastern Congo including the capitals Goma and Bukavu, has pressed for all of its detainees to be transferred to Goma before further negotiations. Although the August 18 deadline for finalising a peace deal passed without agreement, mediators in Doha remain hopeful that direct negotiations will soon resume and lay the groundwork for a lasting settlement.