The M23 rebel group and the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced the outcomes of their direct talks held in Qatar.
The two parties had been in negotiations for nearly three weeks, mediated by the Qatari monarchy, aiming to resolve the conflict that has persisted since November 2021.
In a statement signed by Papy Mbuyi Kanguvu, the head of the Congolese delegation, the DRC said the talks were “peaceful and constructive.” M23 also released a similar statement, signed by its political spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka.
Both sides confirmed areas of agreement, despite earlier reports suggesting the dialogue had stalled over the DRC’s refusal to release more than 700 detainees it accuses of having ties to the M23.
According to the joint declarations, the agreements include:
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Immediate cessation of hostilities
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End to hate speech and incitement
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A call for all Congolese ethnic groups to respect these commitments
Both parties also pledged to implement these points, viewing them as a foundation for further peacebuilding discussions to restore stability in eastern DRC and the region.
Future talks will address the root causes of the conflict in DRC and propose sustainable solutions to end the longstanding violence in the east of the country.
The Doha discussions also led Congolese government representatives to commit to respecting all agreements made throughout the negotiation period.
The ceasefire agreement comes as fighting was reported earlier this week between government troops and M23 rebels in areas including Walikale Territory. Reports also suggest M23 has begun reinforcing positions near Walikale-Centre, possibly signaling an intention to retake the town, which it vacated last month.
