DR Congo and M23 sign framework for peace in Qatar
Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed a framework aimed at advancing peace in the country’s embattled eastern region. The ceremony was held in Qatar, which — together with the United States and the African Union — has been mediating talks to end decades of violence in the resource-rich area.
US Africa envoy Massad Boulos said the agreement contains eight protocols but added that most of them still require detailed work. He acknowledged that progress on prisoner exchanges and on setting up robust ceasefire monitoring has been slower than expected.
Outstanding disputes: Kinshasa continues to demand the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory. Kigali says any withdrawal can only follow the dismantling of the FDLR, a Congo-based militia largely composed of ethnic Hutus linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. That disagreement remains one of the thorniest political and security obstacles to a lasting settlement.
The new framework also addresses humanitarian access, the return of displaced people and protections for the judiciary, according to AFP’s report quoting Boulos. It builds on a declaration of principles signed by the two sides in Doha in July and a separate agreement reached in the same city last month to set up monitoring for a potential ceasefire.
Earlier diplomatic efforts have struggled to hold. A Washington-brokered deal in June was quickly violated by the warring parties, and previous attempts to secure lasting peace have repeatedly broken down. The M23, one of the largest armed groups in the conflict, was not directly part of that US-brokered ceasefire but has supported the Qatar-led talks, saying they are better placed to tackle the conflict’s “root causes.”
Decades of instability escalated sharply in January when M23 fighters seized large parts of eastern DR Congo, including the regional capital Goma, the city of Bukavu and two airports. Since then, thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes.
After losing territory, the Kinshasa government turned to the United States for support, reportedly offering access to critical minerals in exchange for security guarantees. Eastern DR Congo is rich in coltan and other minerals essential to the global electronics industry.
Rwanda denies direct support for the M23 and says any military presence in the border region is defensive, aimed at countering threats from armed groups such as the FDLR. International observers and some governments, however, have accused Kigali of backing the rebels — an allegation Rwanda rejects.
Outlook: The Qatar-mediated framework represents a diplomatic step forward but leaves major political and security questions unresolved. Successful implementation will hinge on concrete progress on troop withdrawals, credible ceasefire monitoring and swift humanitarian access.
