8/19/2025 DRC (International Christian Concern) — The Congolese government and the M23 rebel group have missed a self-imposed Monday deadline for a final peace agreement, casting doubt on the peace process and raising questions about civilian safety in a region long wracked by sectarian violence. The parties met for Qatar-mediated peace talks on July 19, during which they agreed to reach a final agreement by Aug. 19.

On Sunday, M23 demanded the release of prisoners to continue the peace process. While talks are ongoing, M23 has emphasized its low hopes for the discussion and currently has only a small delegation working on the negotiations.

The parties have disagreed since the beginning on the principles for an eventual peace agreement, with Qatari and Congolese officials emphasizing the return of territory captured by M23 earlier this year and M23 leaders declaring their intention to maintain control of captured territory.

“We are in Goma with the population,” one M23 spokesman told the Associated Press about one of the cities captured this year from government forces, “and we are not going to get out.” Another M23 leader took a more nuanced approach, saying that the declaration empowered the DRC’s government to resume its responsibilities across the country but fell short of mandating that M23 conduct a complete withdrawal.

Though M23 receives backing from Rwanda, its fighters are primarily Congolese. Even if M23 were to dismantle its operations and relinquish control of the parallel administrations currently governing several areas of eastern DRC, it would still be far from the only militant group operating in the region. Without a robust force to fill the void, its withdrawal would likely create a dangerous power vacuum.

M23 itself emerged from a failed peace deal forged roughly 16 years ago that was never fully implemented.

Roughly 120 distinct militant groups are active in the DRC, each with its own leadership, supply lines, and motivations. Among them is the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a jihadist militia aligned with the Islamic State group and known for its brutality and hostility toward Christianity, the majority religion in the country.

Highlighting the continued risk to civilians, a church attack in the small eastern town of Komanda in late July led to the slaughter of more than 50 Christians. Militants affiliated with the ADF are credited with the attack, which occurred as local Christians gathered for a nighttime prayer vigil. Shops and homes in the area were also attacked. The attackers had all left by the time security forces arrived and took at least 20 child hostages, according to sources.

The approaching Aug. 17 deadline offers a narrow window for hope, but the realities on the ground paint a far bleaker picture. Continued violence, the unwillingness of M23 to fully withdraw from captured territories, and the presence of more than a hundred other armed groups underscore the fragility of any potential accord.

Without decisive action to ensure the safety of civilians, restore government authority, and address the complex network of militias fueling instability, the DRC risks repeating the cycle of broken promises and renewed bloodshed that has defined past peace efforts.

For the people of eastern Congo — especially vulnerable Christian communities — the coming days could determine whether the region moves toward peace or plunges deeper into conflict.

To read more news stories, visit the ICC Newsroom. For interviews, please email press@persecution.org. To support ICC’s work around the world, please give to our Where Most Needed Fund.