Congo-Kinshasa: DR Congo Peace Talks Open As Violence Shifts to Remote Highlands

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The Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebel delegates met in Geneva on Tuesday for the ninth round of negotiations aimed at ending a war that has devastated the east of the country. Talks began on Monday near the Swiss city of Montreux, with the location kept secret until late in the day for security reasons, according to RFI. The session is co-moderated by a Qatari delegate and US envoy Massad Boulos, with a representative from the UN mission MONUSCO attending as an observer.

While diplomats negotiate, fighting has shifted into remote highland areas of South Kivu, making the conflict harder to track and increasingly dangerous for civilians, despite repeated ceasefire efforts.

Coverage comparison

Reporting from Al Jazeera focused on the humanitarian toll, describing civilians as "caught in the middle" of the fighting in the Minembwe area of South Kivu. The outlet quoted a reporter in Goma who said thousands of civilians are trapped between different armed groups.

RFI and AllAfrica provided near-identical factual accounts of the talks, including details on the venue, moderators, and the shift of fighting to highland zones. Both outlets reported that at least 541 people were admitted to three hospitals in South Kivu with gunshot wounds in the past three months.

No outlet disputed the core facts, but they diverged in emphasis: Al Jazeera highlighted the humanitarian crisis and accused warring parties of blocking aid, while RFI and AllAfrica framed the negotiations as the central story, noting that both sides have been accused of violating truce agreements.

Key claims

• Negotiations: The ninth round of talks between the Congolese government and M23 began on Monday near Montreux, with Qatari and US co-moderation. Early discussions were reportedly difficult, with delegates disagreeing on the agenda and delegation composition.
• Interim peace monitoring mechanism: On Thursday, the two sides signed an interim peace monitoring mechanism during the talks, as reported by Radio France Internationale. The agreement establishes a body to track humanitarian and security developments and monitor potential ceasefire violations, with representatives from both sides and support from MONUSCO.
• Fighting in highlands: Clashes have spread from towns to high-altitude areas in Fizi, Mwenga, Uvira, and Kalehe territories, particularly around a triangle formed by Point Zero, Mikenge, and Minembwe. Fighting involves heavy weapons, small arms, and drones, with front lines moving closer to populated areas.
• Humanitarian concerns: Human Rights Watch accused warring parties of blocking aid deliveries and preventing civilians from fleeing the South Kivu highlands. The same report described a "dire humanitarian crisis" for civilians who live in fear of abuses by all parties.
• Casualty figures: At least 541 people were admitted to three hospitals in South Kivu with gunshot wounds in three months, according to RFI. No other source provided additional casualty data.

Perspectives

The conflict remains deeply entrenched. The AFC/M23 coalition has seized large swaths of territory in eastern DRC since early 2025, including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu, according to Al Jazeera. The Congolese army and its allies are attempting to push back, but the fighting has now moved to high plateaus where control could open routes toward Baraka and Fizi, according to local sources cited by RFI.

The signing of the interim peace monitoring mechanism is a potential step forward, but its effectiveness remains untested. Both sides have a history of violating truces, and early talks were marred by procedural disputes. The M23 delegation arrived with six delegates and six experts but struggled to have its full team accepted, RFI reported.

Meanwhile, civilians on the ground face an increasingly dire situation. Al Jazeera's reporting from Goma stressed the fragility of conditions, with thousands caught in the crossfire despite the resumption of diplomatic efforts. The UN and international mediators are hoping this round yields more than previous attempts, but as one reporter noted, people on the ground expect pressure on both sides to respect a new durable peace mechanism after a string of failed deals.

Historical and temporal context

The current negotiations follow a December peace accord that has failed to hold. The conflict, which began in 2021, has displaced hundreds of thousands and drawn regional condemnation, including US sanctions on Rwandan army officials for their alleged support of M23. The latest round of talks continues a pattern of diplomatic engagement that has yet to produce a lasting ceasefire.