Led by Secretary General Benjamin Mbonimpa, the AFC/M23 delegation arrived in Doha in early May 2025 to engage in negotiations with representatives of the DRC government. The talks, facilitated by Qatari mediators, were part of a broader initiative launched in March 2025 to de-escalate fighting in eastern Congo and establish a framework for lasting peace.
Sources on the ground report that Mbonimpa and his team returned to Goma earlier this week, following a directive from the coalition's senior leadership.
Neither AFC/M23 nor the DRC government has issued an official statement on the withdrawal, but insiders suggest that the two parties failed to reach a consensus on key issues, most notably, the confidence-building measures deemed essential to advancing the peace process.
At the heart of the impasse is the question of mutual trust. AFC/M23 had been asked to vacate territories under its control as a gesture of goodwill. In response, the group withdrew from the city of Walikale and nearby areas in early April.
In return, it presented the DRC government with a list of 700 detainees allegedly imprisoned for suspected affiliations with the movement, requesting their release. The government released only five individuals, none of whom appeared on the submitted list.
Despite high hopes for progress, a report by Africa Intelligence on May 15 indicated that Qatar had anticipated a preliminary agreement by May 10. The goal that was not realised, forcing talks to continue without resolution.
Recent developments in the conflict region have further strained the process. AFC/M23 has reportedly resumed military operations in several regions and is said to be attempting to seize the town of Pinga in Walikale territory. These actions have raised concerns that the group is losing faith in the negotiation track.
The fragile ceasefire agreement brokered at the end of April also failed to hold, with both sides accusing each other of violations. AFC/M23 has pointed to continued provocations by pro-government Wazalendo militias, which it claims are undermining the negotiation environment.
With its delegation now pulled from the Qatar talks, AFC/M23's move casts doubt on the future of the peace process. Observers warn that without renewed diplomatic efforts and tangible steps from both parties, the conflict in eastern Congo could further escalate, undermining months of progress and risking a return to full-scale violence.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/afc-m23-withdraws-its-delegation-from-qatar
