Why the Doha peace mediations flopped today

Direct talks did not occur this August 8 in Doha; Qatari mediation reassures that negotiations are underway, particularly for the release of prisoners.

08/08/2025

Declaration of Principles between the DRC and the M23 in Doha

The August 8 date for the start of direct talks between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 rebellion in Doha, Qatar, has been abandoned. Delegations from both sides have not yet made the trip, at least as of this Thursday afternoon, according to several sources.

Faced with what appears to be a public impasse, the Qatari mediation reassures that "both parties continue to work with Qatar's support to implement the provisions set out in the Declaration of Principles."

"This includes ongoing negotiations to establish a mechanism—with the participation of the International Red Cross—for the exchange of prisoners, which has taken longer than initially expected. However, progress is being made, and once an agreement is reached on this point, the implementation of the agreement should accelerate," the mediation indicated.

Both parties had until July 29 at the latest to implement the provisions of the Declaration of Principles, which includes confidence-building measures, before beginning direct discussions aimed at leading to a comprehensive and inclusive peace agreement.

Regarding confidence-building measures, the government had confirmed that the detainees would indeed be released on both sides before beginning the next stage of negotiations in Doha with a view to reaching a comprehensive peace agreement. However, to date, nothing has been done. The prisoners were supposed to be released on both sides. The rebels had already decided that they would not return to Doha again if the government did not release its 700 imprisoned members and close associates. This was despite the fact that the next talks were scheduled to begin this Friday, August 8, with the hope of reaching a comprehensive peace agreement on August 17, in accordance with the Declaration of Principles signed on June 27 in Doha.

Kinshasha:Full list of the Suminwa II Government

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS

✅ Interior: Jacquemain Shabani

✅ Transport: Jean-Pierre Bemba

✅ Defense: Guy Kabombo Mwadiamvita

✅ Economy: Daniel Mukoko

✅ Budget: Adolphe Muzito (Photo)

✅ Civil Service: Jean-Pierre Lihau

MINISTERS OF STATE

✅ Planning: Guylain Nyembo

✅ Foreign Affairs: Thérèse Kayikwamba

✅ Agriculture: Muhindo Nzangi

✅ Industry: Aimé Boji

✅ Social Action: Ève Bazaïba

✅ Justice: Guillaume Ngefa

✅ Hydrocarbons: Acacia Bandubola

✅ Education: Raïssa Malu

✅ Urban Planning and Housing: Alexis Gisaro

✅ Vocational Training: Marc Ekila

✅ Rural Development: Grégoire Mutond

✅ Relations with Parliament: Guy Loando

MINISTERS

✅ Finance: Doudou Fwamba

✅ Health: Roger Kamba

✅ Trade: Julien Paluku

✅ Environment: Marie Nyange

✅ Infrastructure and Public Works: John Banza

✅ Higher and University Education: Marie-Thérèse Sombo

✅ Labor: Ferdinand Massamba

✅ Posts and Telecommunications: José Panda

✅ Digital Economy: Augustin Kibassa

✅ Mining: Louis Watum

✅ Water Resources and Electricity: Aimé Molendo Sakombi

✅ Communication and Media: Patrick Muyaya

✅ Regional Planning: Jean-Lucien Bussa

✅ Entrepreneurship: Justin Kalumba

✅ Tourism: Didier Manzenga

✅ Fisheries: Jean-Pierre Tshimanga

✅ Culture and Arts: Yolande Elebe

✅ Human Rights: Samuel Mbemba

✅ Land Affairs: Oneige Nsele

✅ Regional Integration: Floribert Anzulini

✅ Sports and Leisure: Didier Budimbu

✅ Portfolio: Julie Mbuyi

✅ Gender and Family: Micheline Ombaye

✅ Youth: Grâce Kutino

DEPUTY MINISTERS

✅ To the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Crispin Mbadu

✅ To the Minister of the Environment: Alerte Bahati

✅ To the Minister of Urban Planning and Housing: Angèle Bangasa Yogo

✅ To the Minister of Social Affairs: Irène Esambo

✅ To the Minister of National Defense: Eliezer Thambwe

DEPUTY MINISTERS

✅ Budget: Élysée Bokumwana

✅ Interior: Eugénie Tshiela

✅ Foreign Affairs: Noëlla Ayenagato

✅ Finance: Gracia Yamba

✅ Education: Théodore Kazadi

✅ Customary Affairs: Mwami Ndeze Katurebe Jean-Baptiste

Ituri holds a sssesion for discussing the way forward

 The Ituri parliamentary session, which opened on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, continued on Wednesday, August 6, in the Karibuni Hotel in Bunia, the provincial capital. On this second day, several socio-professional groups engaged with Ituri elected officials, including the Union of Cultural Associations for the Development of Ituri (UNADI), the youth organization, the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC), religious denominations, and women's associations operating in Ituri.

Each group presented its specific challenges and proposed solutions to improve stability and social cohesion throughout the province. These socio-professional stakeholders expressed their support for the parliamentary caucus' initiative and made concrete recommendations to the elected officials.

In return, the parliamentarians committed to compiling these recommendations into a comprehensive report that will be submitted to the provincial government and central authorities, in the hope of finding solutions to the problems plaguing the province.

This participatory process, which began on August 5, continues this Thursday, August 7, at the Karibuni Hotel, where consultations and discussions with local stakeholders will continue in order to further explore the proposals emanating from various sectors of Ituri society.

M23 abandons tomorrow's Doha talks

 M23/AFC abandons talks scheduled for Doha

Regular participants in the talks between the AFC/M23 coalition and government representatives in Doha, Qatar, were seen heading to Bukavu instead of attending the unannounced talks in Doha.

AFC/M23 had indicated that it would not attend the talks unless the Congolese government released 700 of its prisoners.

Talks between the AFC/M23 and the Congolese government were scheduled to resume on Friday, but AFC/M23 participants said no one from their side attended.

Participants included Maitre Rene Abandi and Aman Kabasha, who were seen in a video taken by Yannick Tshisola of AFC/M23 on a boat in Lake Kivu heading to Bukavu, saying they were attending a meeting to clarify the terms of the “Declaration of Principles” signed in Doha.

Alerts of suspected presence of ADF near Bahaha, Mambasa Komanda axis.

According to Mr. Jimmy Soli, president of the youth parliament in the Babila Bakwanza Chiefdom, Mambasa district, heavily armed men, believed to be members of the ADF, have been visible for several days around the village of Bahaha, the chiefdom's capital, about 40 km from Mambasa center on the Komanda axis.

"These armed men are asking the population to remain calm and pay their tokens to access the fields," he states. Jimmy Soli calls on the army to act, because with this strategy, the ADF is seeking to gather the population before massacring them using deception.

But,I know the army must swiftly look into that matter ,do thorough intelligence to confirm this and then the needful!!!!

For God and My Country..

ARREST OF TWO FRENCH PERSONS FOR ESPIONAGE IN KINSHASA

 

On Tuesday evening, around 9 p.m., a major security operation was conducted at Ngobila Beach in Kinshasa, in the commune of Gombe.

Coordinated by the Congolese intelligence services, the navy, special forces, and the national police, this raid aimed to locate a suspicious satellite suitcase and several infiltrators.

The area was completely sealed off: no entry or exit was allowed between Tuesday evening and 5 a.m. Wednesday morning. Law enforcement conducted a thorough house-to-house and plot-to-plot search.

Numerous arrests were made during this operation, including two French nationals arrested in possession of sensitive material. Investigations are continuing to determine the extent of their involvement in what is now considered an espionage case.

USA and Israel agents help DRC intelligence in intercepting aSatellite Surveillance Briefcase in Kinshasa

A discreet but decisive operation by Congolese intelligence services—supported by their American and Israeli counterparts—has neutralized a sophisticated satellite surveillance device hidden in the premises of a local television station, Antenne A, in Kinshasa.

The military-grade equipment was used to intercept sensitive communications, particularly those emanating from the highest authorities of the Congolese state. Two French nationals, officially identified as technicians, were arrested on the spot.

Main Target: the Presidency of the Republic👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

According to security sources close to the case, the satellite briefcase specifically captured confidential communications related to the Congolese presidency, as well as those of former head of state Joseph Kabila (JKK), who was recently exfiltrated to Côte d'Ivoire.

Preliminary findings from the investigation indicate that the intercepted data was transmitted in real time to external actors, notably Rwandan President Paul Kagame, via encrypted channels. This espionage operation sets a serious precedent in the recent history of regional relations.

A Device Identified Thanks to Joint Technological Monitoring👇👇👇👇👇

It was the American and Israeli intelligence services that detected abnormal satellite emissions around certain civilian installations in Kinshasa several weeks ago. Alerted, the Congolese services conducted a targeted operation, which led to the seizure of the equipment and the arrest of the two operators.

Experts believe that this type of device could have operated undetected for several months, or even longer, without this international cooperation.

A Serious Violation of National Sovereignty👇👇👇

The presence on Congolese soil of a sophisticated interception system, operated by foreigners, constitutes a clear violation of the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Congolese authorities are now questioning the exact nature of the mandate of the two French nationals, as well as the local complicity that may have facilitated the installation and maintenance of the equipment.

Questions also remain about the timing: Joseph Kabila left the country at the very moment the system was exposed. Was he informed? Was he targeted? Was he complicit? The silence of those involved only reinforces the seriousness of the matter.

And now?

Congolese authorities have not yet officially announced the legal consequences. But the incident is expected to lead to major diplomatic tensions, particularly with France and Rwanda.

A joint investigative report between Kinshasa's services and Western partners is expected in the coming days!

Is the US-Congolese cooperation, under the active diplomacy of President Félix Tshisekedi, continues to produce the expected results!?