DR Congo and Rwanda-backed M23 Agree Roadmap for Peace Talks

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group agree on a roadmap for peace talks amid continued fighting in eastern DRC. The talks include representatives from the United States, Qatar, Switzerland, the African Union Commission, and Togo as African Union mediator.

March 23 Movement:

Dimension	Key Details
Full name and abbreviation	March 23 Movement is abbreviated as M23.
Other name	It is also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army.
Group profile	It is a predominantly Tutsi rebel group.
Nature and backing	It is a Rwandan-backed Congolese rebel paramilitary group.
Base of operations	It is based in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Main area of operation	It operates mainly in the provinces of North and South Kivu, which border Uganda and Rwanda.
Recent territorial development	M23 has seized swathes of the eastern DRC region last year.
Peace agreement	The two sides have signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in Doha, but fighting has continued.
African Union mediation	Togo serves as African Union mediator in the talks.
Accusations of support	Rwanda faces accusations from the UN and DRC of backing M23 troops and firepower.
1994 Genocide	After Hutu extremists kill roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda, a Tutsi-led rebel force takes power.