AFC/M23-DRC Prisoner Release Deal Stalls Despite Qatar Talks

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the AFC/M23 rebel coalition have yet to agree on the release of prisoners, despite signing a framework document on September 15, 2025, committing to the process.

Under the agreement, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was tasked with identifying detainees, verifying their status and facilitating their transfer between the two parties. However, one month later, no prisoners have been released, and both sides continue to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

Talks resumed on October 13, 2025, in Qatar, where delegations from both sides met to review the implementation of the ceasefire and discuss the prisoner exchange before moving toward a broader peace agreement.

A joint monitoring mechanism was established on October 14 to oversee the ceasefire, made up of representatives from both parties, a mediator and international observers. But the prisoner issue remains unresolved.

According to sources close to the mediation, key obstacles include:

Without resolving these legal and logistical gaps, the transfer of prisoners cannot proceed, negotiators say.

The mediation team-which includes observers from the United States and the African Union-has urged both sides to accelerate progress. The peace roadmap initially aimed for a final agreement by August 2025, but the deadline has already been missed.

Talks aimed at removing the barriers to the prisoner exchange are expected to continue for up to 10 days.

The AFC/M23 has already submitted a list of detainees it wants released by the Congolese government. The list includes fighters and political allies, among them Eric Nkuba Shebandu, a former adviser to Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, who is aligned with AFC/M23.

Despite diplomatic efforts, the stalled prisoner release remains a major stumbling block in the peace process, raising fears that delays could escalate tensions on the battlefield.