The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the M23-led rebel alliance have agreed on a roadmap for peace talks, seeking to end years of devastating conflict.
The agreement sets out steps and timelines for negotiations under a framework deal signed in Doha, Qatar, last November.
The roadmap followed five days of talks in Switzerland involving representatives from the United States, Qatar, Togo, Switzerland and the African Union Commission.
The parties also agreed on a standardised system for reporting ceasefire violations and pledged to establish a mechanism addressing implementation disputes.
A ceasefire verification mission is expected to arrive Monday in Minembwe, an area in eastern South Kivu province.
The agreement offers a cautious opening for diplomacy, but fighting continues across the region and threatens to undermine the fragile peace process.
M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka accused Congolese coalition forces of launching kamikaze drone strikes on populated areas around Minembwe on Saturday.
He claimed the attacks caused civilian casualties and damaged infrastructure, though the allegation could not immediately be independently verified.
The United Nations warned in July that growing drone use by both sides had further destabilised North and South Kivu.
The conflict has killed thousands and displaced an estimated 5.3 million people since M23 resumed its offensive in 2021.
M23 has seized large areas, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
The conflict also carries deep regional roots, with Rwanda and the DRC accusing each other of supporting armed groups involved in the fighting.
Rwanda denies backing M23, while Kinshasa rejects accusations that it supports the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda.