On October 14, 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group took a significant step toward ending years of brutal conflict by signing an agreement in Doha, Qatar, to establish an international body to monitor and verify a potential permanent ceasefire. This move, hailed by mediators and participants alike as a pivotal advancement, comes after months of stalled negotiations, missed deadlines, and continued violence in Congo’s mineral-rich eastern provinces.
The deal, signed with the mediation of Qatar and announced publicly the following day, creates a ceasefire monitoring mechanism that will include equal representation from the Congolese government and M23, as well as members from the 12-country International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. In addition, Qatar, the United States, and the African Union will participate as observers, according to statements from both the Qatari foreign ministry and Congolese officials. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO) will also provide logistical coordination, helping to ensure the new body’s operations run smoothly.
According to the Associated Press, the oversight body is expected to convene within seven days of its creation. Its core mandate is to investigate and verify alleged ceasefire violations, and to communicate with all relevant parties to prevent any resumption of hostilities. The documents signed in Doha specify that the body will meet at the request of either party in the event of reported violations, reflecting a flexible approach designed to address flare-ups quickly and transparently.
The agreement comes against a backdrop of ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo. The United Nations has described the situation as “one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth,” with more than 7 million people displaced. The fighting has been marked by the involvement of over 100 armed groups vying for control of the region’s vast mineral wealth. Among these, M23 stands out as the most prominent and well-organized, controlling large swathes of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
Earlier this year, M23 rebels seized two major cities—Goma, the capital of North Kivu, and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu—representing a major escalation in the conflict and a blow to Kinshasa’s authority in the east. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have documented thousands of deaths and widespread displacement as a result of the four-year rebellion, with many families forced to flee their homes multiple times as front lines shift.
The path to the current agreement has been anything but straightforward. In July 2025, Congo and M23 signed a declaration of principles in Doha, committing to a comprehensive peace agreement that would include the restoration of state authority in key cities under insurgent control and the exchange of prisoners. That deal was supposed to pave the way for a final peace accord by August 18, 2025. However, both sides missed the deadline, trading accusations of violating the terms and continuing hostilities. According to the Congolese army, M23 was responsible for the deaths of 39 civilians in Rutshuru territory between October 6 and 12, 2025, a claim that has fueled further mistrust.
Despite these setbacks, mediators and observers have expressed cautious optimism about the new oversight mechanism. Qatar’s foreign ministry described the move as a “pivotal step toward enhancing confidence-building and moving forward toward a comprehensive peace agreement.” M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka echoed this sentiment, calling the agreement “a significant advancement” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Congolese officials have also reaffirmed their commitment to ending the fighting, protecting civilians, and preparing the conditions for a lasting peace. In a statement on X, Kinshasa reiterated its “desire to achieve a cessation of hostilities, to guarantee the security of the population, and to prepare the conditions for a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement.”
The complexity of the conflict is compounded by regional dynamics. Although Rwanda has consistently denied providing military support to M23, United Nations experts have reported that the Rwandan army played a “critical” role in the group’s recent offensive, including direct combat operations. This has strained relations between Kinshasa and Kigali, even as the two governments signed a separate peace agreement in Washington in June 2025. Notably, M23 was not a party to that deal, insisting on negotiating its own ceasefire with the Congolese government to address outstanding issues.
The new monitoring body is designed to address some of the shortcomings of previous agreements by ensuring that both sides have an equal voice in the verification process, with international observers providing additional oversight. The mechanism’s ability to respond rapidly to alleged violations and its inclusion of regional and international actors are seen as crucial to building trust and preventing a return to full-scale conflict.
Still, significant challenges remain. Fighting has continued in several areas despite the July ceasefire agreement, and both the Congolese government and M23 have accused each other of breaking the terms and undermining peace efforts. The displacement crisis shows no signs of abating, with families living in makeshift camps and humanitarian agencies struggling to provide basic services amid ongoing insecurity.
For many in eastern Congo, the creation of the oversight body offers a glimmer of hope but also a reminder of the long road ahead. As the new mechanism prepares to begin its work, the eyes of the region—and the international community—will be watching closely to see whether this latest agreement can finally bring an end to one of Africa’s most enduring and devastating conflicts.
The coming weeks will test the resolve of both the Congolese government and M23 to honor their commitments and work toward a peace that has eluded the region for far too long. With the involvement of Qatar, the United States, the African Union, and the United Nations, there is renewed international attention on Congo’s crisis—and, perhaps, a renewed chance for peace.