• DR Congo and M23 rebels missed the August 18 deadline for a peace agreement in Doha.
• The two parties are engaged in negotiations mediated by Qatar following escalating violence in eastern Congo.
• M23 rebels have accused the Congolese army of violating prior peace agreements.

The peace negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group have stalled as both parties missed a critical deadline for reaching a final peace agreement in Doha on August 18. This lapse has raised concerns about the potential for renewed hostilities after a series of escalating conflicts in eastern Congo, particularly since the M23 seized the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu earlier this year. A Qatari official indicated that although the established timeline was not achieved, both sides expressed willingness to continue discussions, emphasizing the need for "sincere engagement" from both parties, according to aa and reuters.

The DRC government and M23 rebels had previously signed a Declaration of Principles on July 19, aiming for negotiations to commence on August 8 and concluding with an agreement by August 18. However, a governmental source indicated that the complexity surrounding the release of prisoners—an essential condition for further discussions—has hindered progress. While the rebels insisted that the implementation of previous agreements must occur before any new talks could resume, there were concerns that renewed fighting could derail the peace process entirely, according to reuters and africanews.

During the lead-up to the missed deadline, the M23 movement stated it would not engage in further negotiations unless all terms of the Declaration of Principles were fully honored. This included the demand for prisoner releases and cessation of military actions against civilian populations. The Congolese government has accused the M23 of launching attacks, asserting that the situation on the ground is perilously close to spiraling into further violence. Reports detail that over 300 civilians were killed in recent confrontations, highlighting the urgency of maintaining dialogue, as emphasized by United Nations officials, per africanews and aljazeera.

In light of these developments, Qatar continues to play a mediating role, sharing a draft agreement with both parties to facilitate further negotiations. A Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson expressed cautious optimism about the ongoing willingness of parties to engage in the talks, despite the impending deadlines not being met. They conveyed that both sides are still showing a level of commitment not previously seen, indicating potential for future engagement in the peace process, according to aljazeera.