U.S. Pushes for Final Round of Peace Talks Between Kinshasa and M23 in Doha

• Trump’s Senior Africa Advisor Says Kinshasa–M23 Talks Could Reach “Final Stage” This Week

The United States is intensifying diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with President Donald Trump’s senior advisor on African affairs, Massad Boulos, stating that peace talks between the Congolese government and the M23 rebel movement could reach their “final stage” this week.

Speaking to  France24 , Boulos said: “This time, we expect it to be the final round of talks. Senior officials from both sides will be attending, and we will also be present.”

The Doha-led negotiations had stalled early last month, with Reuters reporting that Qatari mediators presented a draft peace agreement to both delegations for review with their respective leaderships. The new round of talks, set to resume in Doha later this week, is seen as a pivotal moment following the U.S.-brokered peace agreement signed in June between Rwanda and the DRC.

President Félix Tshisekedi recently expressed gratitude for Qatar’s discreet mediation, acknowledging the low-profile yet critical role played by the Gulf nation. Previous sessions in April and May yielded little progress, and details of the dialogue have remained tightly guarded.

For the first time, the M23-led alliance, known as AFC/M23, has publicly released a list of eight key demands to the Congolese government. In a Thursday press briefing, the group accused Kinshasa of not committing seriously to the Doha talks or acknowledging their concerns. Nonetheless, M23 leaders expressed readiness to return to the negotiation table.

DR Congo’s Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba, confirmed on Thursday that her government would participate in the upcoming talks but declined to share details, only saying, “We hope for a positive outcome.”

Analysts note that this renewed momentum comes under mounting pressure from Washington, which has strategic political and economic interests in a swift resolution to the conflict—particularly as former President Trump eyes global diplomacy successes ahead of the upcoming U.S. elections.

Boulos revealed that the U.S. is preparing to host a high-level summit later this month in Washington, D.C., bringing together Rwandan President Paul Kagame and President Tshisekedi. “We believe the Doha talks will reach an agreement by then,” he added.

Despite the Washington deal between Rwanda and the DRC, sporadic fighting continues in North and South Kivu between M23 forces and the Congolese-aligned Wazalendo militia. Political rhetoric on both sides reflects lingering distrust over implementation of the accord.

Kinshasa has insisted Rwanda must withdraw its troops from Congolese territory, while Kigali maintains that any demobilization depends on Kinshasa dismantling the FDLR, a Rwandan rebel group it considers a national security threat.

Boulos stressed that the Washington agreement must be implemented swiftly, asserting that the FDLR “can be dismantled within months.”

Foreign Minister Kayikwamba, during her Thursday remarks, questioned Rwanda’s alarm over the FDLR. “If the FDLR truly poses a threat… the agreement outlines how to address it permanently just as Rwandan troops in the DRC, who have no legitimate presence, must return home.”

All eyes are now on Doha as renewed negotiations commence, under tighter timelines and increased pressure from Washington to reach a lasting peace.