The March 23 Movement (M23) has confirmed it is sending a technical delegation to Doha, Qatar, to work on the practical arrangements for enforcing a ceasefire and releasing prisoners, in line with the Declaration of Principles signed on July 19, 2025.
Announcing the move on Tuesday, M23 President Bertrand Bisiimwa said the mission is a direct step in implementing the commitments made under the peace framework.
“Our team will review the practical arrangements for the application of the ceasefire and the release of prisoners in accordance with said declaration,” he stated.
The announcement follows a declaration two days earlier by M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, who reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the Doha Peace Process and commended Qatar for its mediation role.
In his August 17 statement from Goma, Kanyuka said “The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) expresses its sincere gratitude to the State of Qatar for its unwavering efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
”Only the full implementation of the Declaration of Principles will enable the next round of talks to proceed, which should be based on the root causes of the conflict. Only in this framework will these root causes be addressed, paving the way for a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement.”
The Declaration of Principles outlines steps to end hostilities, ensure humanitarian access, and create conditions for substantive political dialogue.
Analysts say the dispatch of a technical team indicates M23’s willingness to engage with immediate confidence-building measures, while its leadership continues to insist that deeper political grievances must also be addressed.
The Congolese government has not issued an official response to the latest statements.
Regional actors and international observers, however, are closely watching to see if the Doha process can turn commitments on paper into lasting stability in eastern Congo, where conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.