France, Aug. 23 -- Following talks in Switzerland earlier this week, the parties have committed to "pursue negotiations towards comprehensive peace", mediators said in a joint statement released on Saturday night.

They staked out a roadmap "setting out sequenced steps and timelines for negotiations" and agreed to establish a mechanism to address problems implementing the peace deal they signed late last year in Qatar, the statement said.

They also affirmed "the importance of a standardised method for reporting allegations of ceasefire violations".

A ceasefire verification mission is due to arrive in Minembwe, in South Kivu province in eastern DRC, on Monday. The highland region has seen fierce fighting in recent months as militias alli...