The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the M23-led rebel alliance have agreed on a roadmap to guide peace negotiations aimed at ending the conflict in eastern DRC.
According to a joint statement, the roadmap outlines a series of steps and timelines for negotiations under a framework agreement reached in Doha, Qatar.
The agreement followed five days of talks in Switzerland from August 17 to 21, involving representatives from the DRC, M23, the United States, Qatar, Togo, Switzerland and the African Union Commission.
The two sides also agreed on a standardised system for reporting ceasefire violations and decided to establish a mechanism to resolve problems related to the implementation of the Doha agreement.
A ceasefire verification mission is expected to arrive in Minembwe, in South Kivu province, on Monday.
Despite the diplomatic progress, fighting continues in eastern DRC. An M23 spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, alleged that government coalition forces carried out drone strikes against populated areas in Minembwe on Saturday, causing civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. The claim could not immediately be independently verified.
The United Nations has warned that increased use of drones by the warring sides has further worsened the security situation in North and South Kivu.
The conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced an estimated 5.3 million across the region. M23 has captured large areas of territory, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu.
The crisis has also been compounded by an Ebola outbreak, which has reportedly killed about 2,500 people since May.
The DRC, the United Nations and Western governments have accused Rwanda of supporting M23 with troops and weapons, while Kigali denies the allegations. Rwanda has accused the DRC of supporting Hutu militias, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a claim Kinshasa also rejects.
The latest roadmap represents a new diplomatic effort to end the long-running conflict, although continued fighting remains a major obstacle to achieving a lasting peace.
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