Doha (TDI): In a significant development for the African region, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and M23 rebels signed a declaration of Principles in Doha on Sunday and pledged to sign a peace agreement by August 18.
Both sides have been involved in brutal fighting, which has roots in 1994’s Rwandan Genocide, killing thousands and displacing more hundreds of thousands within the country. This conflict has also escalated the risks of a full-scale regional war.Â
This battle got even fiercer when in January 2025 M23 rebels spurred their uprising against the Congo government and took control of two major cities of the country. Congo accuses M23 rebels of being backed by Rwanda which the latter denies.
This development whereby both sides laid out the timelines of future engagement came after the peace deal, brokered by the US, between Rwanda and Congo last month.Â
Read More:Â Rwanda, DR Congo Sign Peace Deal at US State Department
Qatar officials who are brokering this agreement, the US president, African Union president, and UN secretary general hailed this declaration, in separate statements, as a key step towards a peaceful future for the DRC and for the region.
However, there is still a need for progress on confidence-building measures between the parties as their core disagreements with each other remain somewhat intact.Â
The Congo government regards the territorial occupation of any part of the country as a red line which the government spokesperson highlighted even after the declaration saying that the Congo government takes into account the red lines they have always defended including the non-negotiable withdrawal of M23.
On the other side, there are reservations on the part of M23 regarding evacuation of the territories occupied by the group. Despite, these agreements the recent development holds great importance as it can lead to a permanent peace in the region.
