The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is reaching a fever pitch both diplomatically and on the ground.
Negotiators from the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) and the Congolese government officially resumed talks in Switzerland on April 14, 2026. This ninth round is a continuation of what began as the “Doha Process” in 2025.
While Qatar remains the lead mediator, the talks moved to Geneva (specifically near Montreux) due to the ongoing volatility in the Middle East.
The current focus is the third of eight agreed protocols, which specifically addresses humanitarian access. Previous milestones include a ceasefire monitoring mechanism
(October 2025) and a protocol for prisoner release (September 2025).
Despite the meetings, DRC Foreign Minister Therèse Kayikwamba Wagner recently described the process as being in a state of “paralysis” due to the deteriorating security environment and the failure of past ceasefires.
Since the M23 and allied Twirwaneho forces captured the strategic town of Minembwe in March 2025, the area has become a focal point for intense conflict.
A disturbing new development in early 2026 is the frequent use of combat drones. Human Rights Watch has documented at least eight drone strikes in the South Kivu highlands between January and March, targeting both military positions and civilian areas.
The UN has officially classified humanitarian access to these highlands as “severe.” Aid delivery is almost impossible because the remote, mountainous terrain is naturally difficult to reach.
Both the Congolese army (FARDC) and rebel groups have been accused of blocking aid corridors and harassing humanitarian staff. Limited connectivity in the highlands makes it nearly impossible for NGOs to coordinate safety or report abuses in real-time.
​The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet this April to discuss the Congo crisis. Expect a heavy push for sanctions against commanders on both sides and a formal demand for the opening of humanitarian corridors to prevent a total famine in the isolated highland villages.
​While the Geneva talks offer a glimmer of diplomatic hope, the reality on the ground marked by drone strikes and blockaded aid suggests a long road ahead before any
“peace” is felt by the civilians in the Kivus.
