Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels sign declaration of principles for permanent ceasefire
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Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels sign declaration of principles for permanent ceasefire
The M23 is the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups fighting for control in Congo’s mineral-rich east. With 7 million people displaced in Congo, the U.N. has called the conflict “one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth” It is not immediately clear what the specific terms of a final peace agreement would be and what concessions would be made. Congo had requested the withdrawal of the rebels from seized territories.
A final peace deal is to be signed no later than Aug. 18, and it “shall align with the Peace Agreement between Congo and Rwanda” facilitated by the U.S. in June, according to a copy of the declaration seen by The Associated Press.
The agreement of principles touches on most of the highlights of the peace deal Congo and Rwanda signed June 27. It is the first direct commitment by both side since the rebels seized two key cities in eastern Congo in a major advance.
Backed by neighboring Rwanda, the M23 is the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups fighting for control in Congo’s mineral-rich east. With 7 million people displaced in Congo, the U.N. has called the conflict in eastern Congo “one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.”
It was not immediately clear what the specific terms of a final peace agreement would be and what concessions would be made. M23 had been pushing for the release of its members held by Congo’s army, many of them facing the death sentence. Congo had requested the withdrawal of the rebels from seized territories.
A key issue has been whether Rwanda will pull their support for the rebels, including the thousands of troops that the United Nations experts said are in eastern Congo.
When Rwanda and Congo signed the peace deal in Washington, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said Rwanda agreed to lift its “defensive measures” — suggesting a reference to its troops eastern Congo — once Congo neutralizes an armed group whose members Kigali accuses of carrying out the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
Analysts have say it is going to be difficult for the M23 rebels to withdraw from the eastern Congolese cities of Goma and Bukavu seized earlier this year and that it would depend on concessions Congolese authorities agree to make.
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DR Congo and M23 rebels sign ceasefire deal
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed armed group M23 signed a ceasefire deal on Saturday. It follows a separate peace deal between the Congolese and Rwandan governments signed in Washington last month. The two sides signed a declaration of principles whose terms include a “permanent ceasefire”, after three months of talks in Qatar. It includes a roadmap for restoring state authority in eastern DRC, and an agreement for the two sides to open direct negotiations toward a comprehensive peace agreement. Thousands were killed in a lightning offensive by the M23 in January and February, in which the group seized vast swathes of territory, including the key provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu. The front line has stabilised since February, but fighting was regularly breaking out between M23 and multiple pro-government militias. The African Union hailed the new agreement as a ‘significant development’, saying: “This … marks a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability”
Mohamed Bin Mubarak Al-Khulaifi (centre), Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, is flanked by peace mediator Sumbu Sita Mambu (left), representing DR Congo; and Benjamin Mbonimp, M23 executive secretary, at the signing of a ceasefire agreement in Doha on July 19. (Photo: AFP)
DOHA – The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed armed group M23 signed a ceasefire deal on Saturday to end fighting that has devastated the country’s mineral-rich but conflict-torn east.
The two sides signed a declaration of principles whose terms include a “permanent ceasefire”, after three months of talks in Qatar.
It follows a separate peace deal between the Congolese and Rwandan governments signed in Washington last month.
Rich in natural resources, especially lucrative minerals, eastern DRC has been wracked by conflict for more than three decades, creating a humanitarian crisis and forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
Thousands were killed in a lightning offensive by the M23 in January and February, in which the group seized vast swathes of territory, including the key provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu.
In the agreement signed in Doha, the warring parties agreed to “uphold their commitment to a permanent ceasefire”, including refraining from “hate propaganda” and “any attempt to seize by force new positions”.
The deal includes a roadmap for restoring state authority in eastern DRC, and an agreement for the two sides to open direct negotiations toward a comprehensive peace agreement.
Congolese presidential envoy Sumbu Sita Mambu and M23 permanent secretary Benjamin Mbonimpa shook hands after signing the deal at a ceremony in the Qatari capital.
The M23 had insisted on seeking its own ceasefire deal with Kinshasa, saying the DRC-Rwanda deal signed in Washington in June left out various “problems” that still needed to be addressed.
The two sides said the new deal aligned with the Washington agreement, which US President Donald Trump at the time called the start of “a new chapter of hope and opportunity” for the region.
The African Union hailed the new agreement as a “significant development”, saying: “This … marks a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability in eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region.”
‘Red lines’
Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said the deal took account of the DRC’s “red lines”, including “the non-negotiable withdrawal of the M23 from occupied areas followed by the deployment of our institutions”, including the armed forces.
He said the comprehensive peace agreement would follow “in the coming days”.
The two sides agreed to implement the deal’s terms by July 29 at the latest, and to start negotiations toward a comprehensive agreement by August 8.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi are due to meet in the coming months to solidify the Washington peace deal, whose terms have not yet been implemented.
Questions remain over an expected side deal on economic issues, after Trump boasted of securing mineral wealth in the vast central African nation.
Tshisekedi said in April he had discussed a deal for access to the DRC’s mineral wealth with US special envoy Massad Boulos.
Boulos, who was at the signing ceremony in Doha, called the restoration of the Congolese government’s control over its eastern territory “one of the most important clauses” in the new deal.
But “we know that there are no magic solutions” to end the conflict, “especially regarding the timeline”, he told a news conference.
Previous ceasefire agreements for eastern DRC have collapsed in the past.
Neighbouring Rwanda denies providing military backing to the M23, but UN experts say the Rwandan army played a “critical” role in the group’s offensive, including combat operations.
The front line has stabilised since February, but fighting was still breaking out regularly between the M23 and multiple pro-government militias.
DR Congo, M23 Armed Group Sign Ceasefire Deal
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed armed group M23 sign a ceasefire deal. The deal follows a separate Congolese-Rwandan peace deal signed in Washington last month. The M23 seized vast swathes of territory in eastern DRC in a lightning offensive in January and February. The front line has stabilised since February, but fighting was still breaking out regularly between the M23 and multiple pro-government militias. The African Union hailed the new deal as a “significant development”, saying: “This… marks a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace”
The truce was agreed in a Declaration of Principles signed by the two sides after three months of talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, which follows a separate Congolese-Rwandan peace deal signed in Washington last month.
“The Parties commit to uphold their commitment to a permanent ceasefire,” including refraining from “hate propaganda” and “any attempt to seize by force new positions”, said the agreement.
The M23, which seized vast swathes of territory in eastern DRC in a lightning offensive in January and February, had insisted on seeking its own ceasefire deal with Kinshasa, saying the Washington deal left out various “problems” that still needed to be addressed.
The African Union hailed the new deal as a “significant development”, saying: “This… marks a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability in eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region”.
Under the deal, the warring parties agreed to open negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement.
The deal, which the two sides said aligns with the Washington agreement, also includes a roadmap for restoring state authority in eastern DRC.
Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said the deal took account of the DRC’s “red lines”, including “the non-negotiable withdrawal of the M23 from occupied areas followed by the deployment of our institutions”, including the national armed forces.
He said a comprehensive peace agreement would follow “in the coming days”.
The deal said the two sides had agreed to implement its terms by July 29 at the latest, and to start direct negotiations toward a permanent agreement by August 8.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi are due to meet in the coming months to solidify the Washington peace deal, whose terms have not yet been implemented.
Previous ceasefire agreements for eastern DRC have collapsed in the past.
Neighbouring Rwanda denies providing military backing to the M23, but UN experts say that the Rwandan army played a “critical” role in the group’s offensive, including combat operations.
Rich in natural resources, especially lucrative minerals, eastern DRC has been racked by conflict for more than three decades, creating a humanitarian crisis and forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
Thousands were killed in the M23 offensive earlier this year, which saw the group capture the key provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu.
The front line has stabilised since February, but fighting was still breaking out regularly between the M23 and multiple pro-government militias.
Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels sign declaration of principles for a permanent ceasefire in the east
Congo and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels sign a declaration of principles to end decadeslong fighting in eastern Congo. It commits them to a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive peace agreement to be signed in one month. The M23 seized vast swathes of mineral-rich territory in eastern DRC in a lightning offensive in January and February. The front line had stabilised since February, but fighting was still breaking out regularly between the M23 and multiple pro-government militias. With seven million people displaced in Congo, the UN has called the conflict “one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth’ The deal also includes a road map for restoring state authority in east DRC, which has been racked by conflict for more than three decades. It follows a separate Congolese-Rwandan peace deal signed in Washington last month, and follows a series of meetings between the two sides in Doha, Qatar, over the past three months. For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details.
The truce was agreed in a Declaration of Principles signed by the two sides after three months of talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, which follows a separate Congolese-Rwandan peace deal signed in Washington last month.
A final peace deal is to be signed no later than August 18, and such a deal “shall align with the Peace Agreement between Congo and Rwanda”, the declaration said.
“The Parties commit to uphold their commitment to a permanent ceasefire,” including refraining from “hate propaganda” and “any attempt to seize by force new positions”, a statement said.
It is the first direct commitment by both Congo and the rebels since they seized two key cities in eastern Congo in a major advance.
The M23, which seized vast swathes of mineral-rich territory in eastern DRC in a lightning offensive in January and February, had insisted on seeking its own ceasefire deal with Kinshasa.
The group is the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups fighting for control in Congo’s mineral-rich east. It said the Washington deal left out various “problems” that still needed to be addressed.
The warring parties agreed to open negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement.
The deal also includes a road map for restoring state authority in eastern DRC.
Eastern DRC has been racked by conflict for more than three decades.
With seven million people displaced in Congo, the UN has called the conflict in eastern Congo “one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth”.
The front line had stabilised since February, but fighting was still breaking out regularly between the M23 and multiple pro-government militias.
The African Union the ceasefire was a “significant development”.
“This… marks a major milestone in the continuing efforts to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability in eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region,” African Union chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said in a statement.
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Congo, M23 rebel group sign declaration of principles to end fighting
The signing by representatives from both sides took place at a ceremony in Qatar on Saturday. It comes after months of Qatari mediation that began after talks in April. M23, in the latest of a series of uprisings supported by Rwanda, seized Goma in January and went on to make gains across North and South Kivu provinces. The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year, while escalating the risk of a full-scale regional war. Many Congolese see the deal as an opportunity for the US to acquire Congo’s critical minerals.
Sources briefed on the talks said details still needed to be negotiated, but it was a sign of progress.
The signing by representatives from both sides took place at a ceremony in Qatar on Saturday.
It comes after months of Qatari mediation that began after talks in April.
The United States has exerted pressure to finalise a durable peace deal in the volatile Central African country.
US President Donald Trump has made clear he hoped it would attract Western investment to a region rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals.
Thousands killed in fighting
Members of the M23 rebel group seized Goma earlier this year. (Reuters: Arlette Bashizi)
M23, in the latest of a series of uprisings supported by Rwanda, seized Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city, in January and went on to make gains across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
Congo and Rwanda sign US-mediated peace deal Photo shows Donald Trump, seated at his desk, holds up a signed piece of paper as three men and a woman stand behind him looking on. While the deal could be a turning point in the struggle to end the conflict, many Congolese see the deal mainly as an opportunity for the US to acquire Congo’s critical minerals.
The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year, while escalating the risk of a full-scale regional war.
Several of Congo’s neighbours already had troops deployed in eastern Congo when the advance began.
In March, Qatar brokered a surprise meeting between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame during which they called for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire.
That led to direct talks, also in Doha, between Congo and M23.
Congo had previously rejected the idea of holding talks with M23, branding it a terrorist group.
Sources in both delegations have expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations and the lack of progress on confidence-building measures, including the release of M23 members held by Congo and the reopening of banks in rebel-held territory.
It was unclear on Saturday how many of those issues had been resolved.
Outstanding questions concerning the possible Rwandan and M23 withdrawals from eastern Congo were not expected to be fully addressed by the declaration of principles.
Reuters