Draft deal sparks fresh hope for peace in battle-scarred Congo
Mediators have presented a draft peace agreement to the Congolese government and the M23 group.
Negotiations in Doha are facilitated by Qatar and the United States, showcasing international involvement.
The draft agreement builds on the July 19 Doha Declaration of Principles aimed at establishing long-term peace.
A Qatari official taking part in the negotiations stated on Sunday that the draft, which is part of the ongoing Doha discussions, represents "the preparation and sharing of a draft peace agreement with both parties."
The official stated that the timeline had not been met, but "both parties have responded positively to the facilitator and expressed a willingness to continue negotiations," as seen on France24.
A key round of discussions is slated to begin shortly in Doha, following months of mediation spearheaded by Qatar and the United States.
Rising tensions between the DRC and the M23 rebels
Despite progress at the negotiation table, the fragile peace between Kinshasa and the M23 group was recently put to the test.
Just last week, the Congolese army accused the rebels of launching new attacks in North Kivu, a conflict-ridden territory. The army issued a harsh warning, reserving the right to respond militarily to any further provocations.
M23, on the other hand, denied these allegations, accusing Congolese troops of undermining the Doha Declaration of Principles, which was issued on July 19.
That accord, signed by both parties in Qatar, was meant to serve as the framework for a more complete peace treaty, which negotiators aimed to conclude by August 18.
Peace efforts so far
In April, under the facilitation of the United States, Rwanda and the DRC agreed to pursue peace, an accord that paved the way for the establishment of a Joint Oversight Committee on July 31.
The committee, formally launched by both governments, aims to monitor implementation of commitments under the U.S.-brokered agreement.
Regional diplomacy has also played a pivotal role.
In February, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi attended a summit of Eastern and Southern African leaders in Tanzania, which sought to rally regional consensus in response to escalating violence.
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