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The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and M23 rebels have signed a ceasefire agreement in Qatar, marking a potential breakthrough in efforts to end one of Africa’s most volatile conflicts.
Signed on Saturday and titled the “Declaration of Principles,” the agreement commits both parties to end hostilities, halt hate speech and propaganda, and cease attempts to seize new territory by force. The declaration, is meant to serve as a roadmap to a permanent peace settlement.
Both sides have pledged to begin implementing the agreement’s terms by July 29, with a final peace accord expected by August 18. This final deal must align with the US-brokered accord signed last month between DR Congo and Rwanda, which has repeatedly denied supporting the M23 rebels.
The conflict, decades in the making, intensified earlier this year as M23 fighters took control of key areas in eastern DR Congo, including the major cities of Goma and Bukavu, as well as two airports. The UN estimates that thousands have died and hundreds of thousands displaced, although M23 disputes the figures, claiming fewer than 1,000 deaths.
DR Congo government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya welcomed the deal, saying it respects the country’s “red lines,” including the non-negotiable withdrawal of M23 forces from occupied territories. However, M23 negotiator Benjamin Mbonimpa, in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), argued the agreement makes no mention of such a withdrawal.
This is the first direct agreement between the two sides since the M23 launched its renewed offensive earlier this year. While the Qatari government said negotiations will continue, skepticism remains, given the region’s long history of failed peace deals.
The African Union Commission praised the deal as a “milestone” for peace and security in the region. The declaration also emphasizes restoring state authority in the conflict-ridden east.
The M23 movement itself was born out of a failed peace deal 16 years ago, and many analysts remain cautious about whether this latest initiative will break the cycle of violence.
In March, DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame met in Qatar and jointly called for an immediate ceasefire. A Qatar-facilitated ceasefire followed in April, but fighting persisted.
The Washington deal, reached in June, has sparked criticism over the U.S.’s apparent interest in DR Congo’s vast mineral wealth, with former President Donald Trump boasting about brokering it. There are reports that Tshisekedi and Kagame may travel to Washington for a joint meeting with Trump, though no date has been confirmed.
