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The African Union Commission has welcomed the signing of the Terms of Reference for a ceasefire mechanism between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23. The agreement was signed on 3 February 2026 in Doha.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission described the development as a significant confidence building measure and a positive step towards de escalation of hostilities in eastern DRC. The establishment of a clear and mutually agreed ceasefire mechanism, he noted, is essential to ensure compliance, build trust between the parties and protect civilian populations affected by prolonged insecurity.
Eastern DRC Ceasefire Process
The agreement brings together the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23, commonly referred to as AFC/M23. The ceasefire framework formalises arrangements for monitoring and oversight, laying the groundwork for a permanent cessation of hostilities in the country’s east.
The Chairperson commended the constructive role played by the State of Qatar and the United States of America in supporting peace efforts in eastern DRC. Their engagement works in tandem with the African Union led process under the leadership of Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Togo and the AU designated Lead Mediator on the eastern DRC, supported by the AU Panel of Facilitators.
The African Union also acknowledged the role of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region in operationalising the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism, known as EJVM+, in support of a permanent ceasefire in eastern DRC.
Encouraging both parties to implement the agreed Terms of Reference fully and faithfully, the Chairperson called for continued constructive engagement in ongoing political and security processes. The African Union Commission reiterated its readiness to support the parties, in collaboration with regional mechanisms, to advance a permanent ceasefire, reconciliation and long term stability.
Eastern DRC has endured repeated cycles of violence that have tested institutions, communities and regional solidarity. Progress will depend not only on signatures in Doha but on sustained political will and credible implementation on the ground. For Africa, where many nations are still consolidating governance structures within relatively young states, peacebuilding remains both urgent and unfinished. Yet each negotiated step forward reflects a continent increasingly determined to shape its own security destiny and to secure stability through African leadership and collective resolve.