Description: Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al – Ansari has stated that representatives from the M23 rebel alliance and DR Congo’s government have restarted peace talks in Doha, after missing the 08 Aug and 18 Aug deadlines to conclude the agreement. The renewed peace talks were reportedly under mediation from the US and coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross after weeks of reported escalation in armed violence in the eastern parts of the DRC. The current negotiations would reportedly focus on ensuring appropriate monitoring mechanisms, which would report violations, and potential prisoner exchanges between the M23 and the DRC’s government. Peace negotiations have previously stalled over key sticking points set to be discussed within the renewed initiative, while violence in the region has surged significantly in the past couple of weeks.
Impact: The restarted peace negotiations signals a significant step towards incorporating the Declaration of Principles initially signed by the M23 and the DRC’s government onto the comprehensive peace agreement signed between Rwanda and the DRC. The situation on the ground continues to undermine the peace efforts made by the mediators and the warring parties, as resurgence in armed violence, kidnapping and increased presence from terrorist organizations such as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) continue to persist as the imperative threat to the brokered ceasefire. Further steps would determine the sustainability of the peace initiative as volatile conditions on the ground have demonstrated in the past to be the deciding factor in the collapse of the potential peace agreement. Key issues are yet to be constructively addressed as both parties seem keen to conclude a final agreement, however, consistent with the unstable security situation, the peace initiative is still under severe threat of collapsing.