GOMA — The Democratic Republic of the Congo government and M23 rebels began a new round of peace talks in Switzerland on Monday, with the United States and Qatar serving as mediators. The two sides signed an interim peace monitoring mechanism during the negotiations.

The agreement establishes a body to track humanitarian and security developments and monitor potential ceasefire violations. The mechanism will include representatives from both the DRC government and the AFC/M23 rebel coalition, with support from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as MONUSCO.

The talks follow a series of prior diplomatic efforts. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame signed a peace and economic agreement in Washington, D.C., in December aimed at ending fighting in the DRC. Separate peace talks mediated by Qatar had also previously taken place between the DRC government and M23.

Clashes between the government and the rebels continued after the December agreement, flaring up almost immediately after it was signed. The two sides have accused each other of violating truce agreements. Rwanda has been accused of backing M23.

The AFC/M23 coalition has seized territory in eastern DRC since the start of 2025, including the cities of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province. Fighting has reached the highland areas of South Kivu, where thousands of civilians are caught in the middle of battles between different armed groups in the area of Minembwe.

Human Rights Watch, in a statement on Tuesday, accused the warring parties of blocking aid deliveries to and preventing civilians from fleeing the highland areas of South Kivu. "More attention is needed for this vastly underreported conflict or this bad situation will get even worse," Clementine de Montjoye, senior Great Lakes researcher at Human Rights Watch, said.