Qatar Warns of Deep Mistrust Hindering DRC-AFC/M23 Reconciliation Efforts

Doha - November 2025. Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, has highlighted the serious challenges facing the reconciliation process between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the AFC/M23 rebel movement, stressing that the talks remain heavily burdened by deep mistrust between the parties.His remarks follow the November 15, 2025, signing of eight basic principles by representatives of the DRC government and the AFC/M23-an agreement reached after months of talks mediated by Qatar and the United States.

In an exclusive interview with Breitbart, Minister Al-Khulaifi described the signing as “a crucial moment” in efforts to restore peace in the Great Lakes region, but warned that progress remains fragile.

“It is a very difficult task… there is a great deal of mistrust between them,” he said. “The word ‘trust’ is not in the vocabulary of the opposing parties.”

Talks Marked by Tension and Ongoing Fighting

According to the minister, negotiations in Doha, which began in March 2025 after discussions between the Emir of Qatar, President Paul Kagame, and President Félix Tshisekedi, often required mediators to separate the delegations to prevent confrontation.

“Sometimes we abandon direct talks and put them in separate rooms,” he noted, underscoring the volatility of the discussions.

He stressed that the biggest challenge is the continuation of fighting in eastern DRC even as negotiations take place:

“This is not only a political conflict. It is an armed conflict… with civilians being killed.”

The minister described intense last-minute negotiations before the November signing, recalling working “until 8:00 a.m.” to refine key lines of the draft text.

Al-Khulaifi cautioned that implementing the principles will be a “100% difficult” task, given the ongoing hostility and the absence of mutual confidence.

He emphasized the step-by-step approach adopted by Qatar and the U.S., noting that six of the eight principles still require detailed negotiations. Two-prisoner releases and cessation of hostilities-were signed earlier in September and October 2025.

Unlike previous mediation attempts, the Doha talks integrate economic measures as a pillar for long-term stability-an approach the minister called “unique and essential.”

The process has received strong backing from the United States, the African Union, and other international partners-support that Minister Al-Khulaifi says enhances the credibility of the initiative. Still, he cautioned:

“Will it be difficult to implement? Absolutely. Will we face challenges? 100%. But we remain committed, step by step, toward lasting peace.”

Initially, Qatar expected a comprehensive peace agreement in early August, following the July 19 adoption of the principles framework. The deal did not materialize. Under the new timeline agreed on November 15, a final agreement will be signed once both sides negotiate and validate the implementation details of the remaining six principles.