The Congolese government and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group have agreed on a roadmap for peace after years of fighting in eastern DRC. They signed what’s being described as a 'framework for peace' in Doha.  It follows several rounds of talks mediated by Qatar.

Doha

Officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group have signed a peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, seeking to resolve the ongoing conflict in the country's eastern region. The agreement, mediated by Qatar, establishes a framework for addressing the root causes of the conflict and includes protocols on ceasefire monitoring and detainee release.

The framework also covers disarmament, reintegration, restoration of state authority, and the safe return of displaced people. Despite the progress, both parties acknowledge significant challenges remain, with a lasting ceasefire seen as essential for the agreement's success. The Doha process is expected to move toward more structured negotiations for a comprehensive peace.

DR Congo and M23 rebels sign peace agreement in Doha

This could be the moment that peace finally comes to the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Congolese officials and representatives from the Congo River Alliance, also known as M23, signed an agreement in Doha with a goal of ending years of conflict. It was mediated by the state of Qatar. The state of Qatar hereby reaffirms that the signature of this framework does not represent the end of the road, but rather a beginning for the path of comprehensive peace. And here we would like to reaffirm that peace cannot be imposed by force. It is built through trust, mutual respect and commitment to the service of our people. The framework lays out a clear roadmap for addressing the root causes of the conflict and sets the agenda for negotiating eight executive protocols. Two of these have already been signed, the ceasefire monitoring mechanism and the detainee release program. Other critical provisions include disarmament and reintegration under temporary security arrangements, the progressive restoration of state authority in conflict-affected areas and dedicated protocols on citizenship, identity and the safe return of displaced people and refugees. A lot of efforts have been put into this and many have tried for many, many years. But what Qatar has been able to achieve in the last just few months is really absolutely remarkable and historic. However, the challenges are still enormous. The conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced millions more since 2021, when M23 rebels began seizing large areas in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. For now, the parties say a lasting ceasefire is what will guarantee the success of the Doha Agreement. From the moment we signed the Declaration of Principles, it included a permanent ceasefire, but it's never been respected. Their position, their posturing on the ground shows that. So when they are ready to stop fighting, we will be ready to stop fighting too. With the Washington peace agreement that was signed between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in June already facing challenges, there's an ever-increasing interest in Qatari mediation which prioritizes internal reconciliation within the DRC as a crucial requirement for a broader peace in the region. With this signing, there is hope that the Doha process now moves from de-escalation and confidence-building to a new phase of structured operational negotiations that pave the way to a final and comprehensive peace agreement for Eastern Congo.

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Belém

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Jerusalem

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Breakdown