(MENAFN) Negotiations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government and the March 23 Movement (M23) insurgent faction will reconvene in Doha, Qatar, next week, President Felix Tshisekedi announced.

A statement released late Sunday by the Congolese presidency confirmed that Tshisekedi reinforced the DRC's dedication to resolving the eastern conflict through political and diplomatic channels while defending national sovereignty and territorial borders.

For months, Doha has served as the sole functioning diplomatic platform connecting Kinshasa and the M23. In July, both parties endorsed a Declaration of Principles in Doha—a framework originally establishing negotiation commencement no later than August 8 and peace accord finalization before August 18. Both deadlines have elapsed unfulfilled.

Tshisekedi, who landed Sunday in Doha for the Second World Summit for Social Development running November 4-6, also commended Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's engagement in the continuing M23 discussions.

The presidential communiqué did not clarify whether Tshisekedi would personally engage in the forthcoming rebel negotiations.

Following its resurgence in late 2021, the M23—now integrated into the political-military Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)—has seized control of multiple strategic locations in eastern DRC, including Goma and Bukavu. In occupied territories, rival administrative systems have emerged, undermining government authority and intensifying the humanitarian catastrophe.

United Nations data reveals more than 2.4 million people have fled their homes since January 2025, pushing the internally displaced population to nearly 6 million. Approximately 1 million Congolese have escaped to bordering nations, while 27 million face starvation threats.

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