A joint statement issued by Qatar, United States, Togo (in its capacity as mediator for the African Union), and Switzerland, alongside the government of Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement, announced what it described as “tangible progress” in implementing the Doha Framework Agreement aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Congo.
The statement followed a series of meetings held in Montreux from April 13 to 17, bringing together conflicting parties and international mediators. Discussions focused on developing a protocol for humanitarian access and legal protection, considered a cornerstone of the peace process.
These talks are part of the implementation of the Doha Framework Agreement signed on November 15, 2025, which seeks to end the ongoing conflict between the Congolese government and the Congo River Alliance/M23 in the eastern region.
Both sides emphasized the critical importance of ensuring the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance, noting progress toward establishing mechanisms to regulate aid access and enhance civilian protection.
The parties also committed to full compliance with international humanitarian law, human rights law, and refugee law, stressing the need to protect essential infrastructure, including food supplies, water sources, healthcare facilities, and schools.
They further agreed to implement measures aimed at preventing violence and abuses against civilians—particularly women and children—while ensuring the protection of humanitarian workers and maintaining the neutrality of aid operations.
To facilitate relief efforts, both sides pledged to guarantee safe, rapid, and sustained humanitarian access, including the development of a unified map of priority humanitarian corridors in coordination with relevant authorities.
The Congolese government also agreed to streamline legal procedures for the registration of humanitarian organizations to enhance their presence in affected areas.
On the humanitarian front, both parties reaffirmed the importance of maintaining essential services such as food, healthcare, education, and shelter, while considering the humanitarian impact of any actions that could disrupt these services.
Regarding healthcare, they committed to providing urgent medical care to the wounded and sick, facilitating evacuations, and ensuring the delivery of medical supplies through neutral humanitarian actors.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed with the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region to activate the expanded joint verification mechanism, paving the way for monitoring a permanent ceasefire, with support from the MONUSCO.
The parties expressed readiness to deploy initial verification missions within a week, reinforcing commitments to cease hostilities on the ground.
As part of confidence-building measures, both sides agreed to the immediate and unconditional release of detainees, in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
They also agreed to continue discussions on reopening Goma airport and related financial institutions to facilitate humanitarian operations.
The statement concluded with a reaffirmation of the parties’ commitment to sustained high-level consultations, maintaining the momentum of the peace process, and accelerating negotiations on outstanding issues with the support of international partners.