Peace mediator Sumbu Sita Mambu, representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo (L), looks on as Qatar’s chief negotiator Mohammed al-Khulaifi (C) shakes hands with Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 executive secretary Benjamin Mbonimpa in Doha on July 19, 2025. © Karim Jaafar, AFP

The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 militia have not backed out of their peace process despite missing a deadline for an agreement, mediator Qatar said Tuesday.

« Both parties are engaging very positively. We are engaging with them also ... and we are committed to the process, » Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a regular news briefing.

The Congolese government and the Rwanda-backed M23 signed a ceasefire agreement in July aimed at leading to a permanent end to the fighting that has devastated the DRC’s mineral-rich but conflict-torn east.

Under the terms of the deal, which followed talks in Qatar, the parties were to begin peace talks on August 8 and finalise an agreement by August 18.

Despite the deadline having expired, Ansari said there was still willingness to continue the process.

« Timelines are not the strong suit of mediation, » he said, noting that in previous meetings and talks « the parties have shown a level of willingness to agree that was not there before ».

On Sunday, a Qatari official told AFP on condition of anonymity that a draft peace plan had been shared with the M23 and the DRC ahead of another round of talks expected to be held in Doha in the coming days.

The July deal follows an earlier, separate peace agreement between the Congolese and Rwandan governments inked in Washington.

The M23 had insisted on seeking its own ceasefire deal with Kinshasa, saying the DRC-Rwanda deal signed in June left out issues that still needed to be addressed.

Previous ceasefire agreements for eastern DRC have collapsed and last week local and security sources confirmed fighting had broken out between the Congolese army and the M23 armed group despite the truce commitment.

Neighbouring Rwanda denies providing military backing to the M23, but UN experts say the Rwandan army played a « critical » role in the group’s offensive, including combat operations.