GOMA, DR Congo, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group said on Thursday that a "new round of dialogue" with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) would soon take place in Switzerland.
The M23 delegation "is en route to Switzerland to take part in a new round of dialogue, in a spirit of responsibility and commitment to a peaceful solution," the rebel group's spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said, without providing further details.
The DRC government has yet to comment on the announcement.
According to diplomatic sources contacted by Xinhua, a series of meetings is scheduled in Switzerland next week between the DRC government and the rebel group. These upcoming talks are seen as a continuation of the Doha process, maintaining the same negotiation framework.
Since March 2025, Qatar has played a mediating role in the crisis in eastern DRC, hosting several rounds of talks between the DRC government and the M23.
According to local media, DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner told diplomats accredited to the country in March that the Doha peace process is currently in a state of "paralysis," attributing the deadlock to broader geopolitical developments and a rapidly deteriorating regional security environment.
Meanwhile, tensions on the ground remain high. In recent days, clashes have persisted across parts of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, with both sides accusing each other of violating ceasefire commitments. ■