DR Congo authorities and M23 rebels agree ceasefire after Qatar talks

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have agreed to halt combating within the east of the nation till peace talks mediated by Qatar attain their “conclusion”.

It’s the newest truce deal for the reason that rebels stepped up an offensive in jap DR Congo the place authorities say 7,000 folks have been killed since January.

Each side on Wednesday collectively introduced to work in the direction of peace following greater than per week of talks, which they described as “frank and constructive”.

Final month, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame additionally reaffirmed their dedication to an “unconditional” ceasefire in a shock assembly in Doha.

The decades-long battle has intensified since January when M23 staged an unprecedented offensive, seizing Goma and Bukavu – jap Congo’s two largest cities – and sparking fears of a wider regional conflict.

DR Congo accuses Rwanda of arming the M23 and sending troops to help the rebels within the battle. Regardless of assertions from each the UN and US, Rwanda has denied supporting the M23.

Rwanda has stated its forces are appearing in self-defence in opposition to the Congolese military and allied militias, a few of which it accuses of hyperlinks to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

DR Congo additionally accuses Rwanda of illegally exploiting its mineral deposits within the east of the nation, which Rwanda denies.

In a joint assertion launched individually by the M23 and Congolese authorities on Wednesday, both sides pledged to present peace talks an opportunity.

“By mutual settlement, each events reaffirm dedication to the instant cessation of hostilities, a categorical rejection of any hate speech, intimidation, and name on all native communities to uphold these commitments,” they stated in a press release learn on Congolese nationwide TV and and posted on X by the M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka.

They stated the ceasefire would apply “all through the length of the talks and till their conclusion”.

Sources within the Qatar talks instructed Reuters information company that the end result of the conferences had been nearly derailed by “technical” points.

It isn’t clear how lengthy the truce will maintain as a number of ceasefires have been agreed since 2021, earlier than later collapsing.

Belgium’s Overseas Affairs Minister Maxime Prevot termed the truce a “essential step in the direction of ending the violence”.

Qatar has been mediating between the 2 events after the rebels refused to attend peace talks in Angola final month.

The Congolese authorities had lengthy refused to carry direct talks with M23, branding it a “terrorist” group.