Overview
- The Congolese government and the M23 movement issued a joint statement after talks in Montreux that set near‑term steps to ease the conflict.
- Both sides pledged to protect civilians and allow life‑saving aid to move freely, with a new protocol on humanitarian access and judicial protection close to completion.
- The parties and the regional bloc ICGLR activated the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus, enabling the ceasefire watchdog COVM to start on‑the‑ground checks with MONUSCO support.
- They also agreed to exchange detainees within ten days under a standing release mechanism, with ICRC‑provided lists and reported counts of 311 M23‑affiliated and 166 government detainees.
- Reports of drone and artillery strikes after the talks show fighting continues, putting the planned prisoner releases and access to cut‑off communities in South Kivu to an early test.