Doha, August 22 (QNA) - A joint statement was issued by the representatives of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the representatives of the Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23), as well as the State of Qatar, the United States of America, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union mediator), Switzerland, and the African Union Commission, on the meetings held in Switzerland from Aug. 17 to Aug. 21, 2026, on the implementation of the Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The statement explained that representatives of the Government of the DRC and representatives of the AFC/M23 convened alongside representatives of the State of Qatar, the United States of America, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union mediator), the African Union Commission, and Switzerland, to assess progress made and challenges encountered to date in the framework of the Doha Process.

The participants also discussed the path forward for the implementation of existing obligations and commitments and the negotiation of remaining protocols under the Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of the DRC and AFC/M23, signed in Doha on November 15, 2025.

The Parties welcomed continued progress on the operationalization of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+), including the establishment of its Secretariat, and the EJVM+ reconnaissance mission, with the logistical support of MONUSCO, conducted on Aug. 20 in advance of the first EJVM+ ceasefire verification mission, scheduled for Aug. 24 in Minembwe.

The Parties agreed on the importance of a standardized method for reporting allegations of ceasefire violations. The Parties also agreed to establish a mechanism tasked with reviewing progress and addressing challenges in implementation of obligations and commitments under the Doha Framework Agreement.

  Following this evaluation, the Parties developed a roadmap setting out sequenced steps and timelines for negotiations under the Doha Framework Agreement and committed to flexibility and creativity within the existing structure provided by the Framework Agreement.

The Parties agreed that the order of negotiation of the protocols does not dictate the order of implementation of the protocols. They reaffirmed their commitment to pursue negotiations towards comprehensive peace and conflict resolution through the implementation of the Framework Agreement.

The Parties shared recommendations with the facilitation regarding the path forward for constructive negotiations and to promote implementation of commitments undertaken by both Parties.

The representatives of the Government of the DRC and the representatives of the AFC/M23 expressed their gratitude to the State of Qatar, the United States of America, the Republic of Togo as the AU Mediator, Switzerland, and the AU Commission for their steadfast support in advancing peace and stability in eastern DRC and the broader Great Lakes region. (QNA)