The March 23 Movement (M23) has suspended its peace talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo, announcing the decision on Monday, August 19, 2025. The statement was carried by local media and quickly picked up across the region.
M23 leaders accused Kinshasa of negotiating in bad faith, saying the government had not honored earlier agreements. They argued that Congolese forces continued to carry out military operations in the east even while dialogue was supposed to be underway.
Regional leaders under the East African Community have been mediating the talks. With the suspension, efforts to calm the situation in North Kivu face another setback.
On the ground, clashes between the army and M23 fighters have grown more intense in recent weeks. Thousands of residents have been forced from their homes, and aid groups are warning that conditions for civilians are deteriorating.
The conflict traces back more than a decade. M23, formed in 2012 by mutinous soldiers, says it defends Congolese Tutsi communities. The government in Kinshasa maintains that the group receives support from Rwanda, a charge that Kigali continues to deny.
