Hope for peace as DR Congo and M23 rebels sign deal in Qatar
Dubbed the Declaration of Principles, Saturday's agreement seen by the BBC, says both sides must refrain from attacks, "hate propaganda" and "any attempt to seize by force new positions on the ground".
The declaration is intended as a roadmap towards a permanent settlement.
The two sides agreed to implement the deal's terms by July 29. A final peace deal is due by 18 August and must align with last month's US-brokered deal between DR Congo and Rwanda, which denies accusations it backs M23.
Decades of conflict escalated earlier this year when M23 rebels seized control of large parts of the mineral-rich eastern DR Congo including the regional capital, Goma, the city of Bukavu and two airports.
The UN says thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands of civilians forced from their homes following since. The M23 disputes the figures, saying fewer than 1,000 people have died.
DR Congo spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said the deal took the government's "red line" into account - including the "non-negotiable withdrawal" of the M23 from occupied areas.
But in a video posted on X, M23 negotiator Benjamin Mbonimpa said the deal did not mention such a pull-out.
It is the first direct accord between the two sides since the rebels launched their offensive at the turn of the year.
Qatar said negotiations were set to continue.
The African Union Commission called the declaration a "milestone" in lasting peace efforts and security in the region.
The declaration also outlines a commitment to reinstating state authority in eastern DR Congo.
This is the latest in a long line of failed peace deals in the region.
One of the main players in today's conflict - the M23 rebels - emerged from a failed peace deal 16 years ago that never delivered on demobilisation.
In March, DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame met in Qatar and both called for an immediate ceasefire.
The following month, DR Congo and M23 group agreed to a ceasefire facilitated by Qatar, but fighting continued on the ground.
The Washington deal, which came about in June, has been met with widespread criticism as a key incentive for the US' intervention is access to the DR Congo's vast mineral wealth. President Trump boasted of this feat.
There has been talk of Tshisekedi and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame going to Washington to meet Trump together, though no date has been fixed.
Additional reporting by Emery Makumeno
DR Congo-Rwanda ceasefire deal still faces many challenges
What's the fighting in DR Congo all about?
How DR Congo's Tutsis become foreigners in their own country
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
BBC Africa podcasts
Africa Daily
Focus on Africa

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
DR Congo tries ex-president Joseph Kabila in absentia for treason
Former Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila went on trial in absentia Friday on charges including treason over his alleged support for Rwanda-backed militants. The trial of Kabila, who returned to live in Goma in May this year, began on Friday at a military court in the Gombe district of the capital Kinshasa. The former president faces charges of plotting to overthrow the government of President Felix Tshisekedi – which could result in a death sentence – as well as homicide, torture and rape linked to the anti-government force M23. Other charges include "taking part in an insurrection movement", "crime against the peace and safety of humanity" and "forcible occupation of the city of Goma". Kabila denies the charges, did not appear at the hearing and has asked to be tried in absentia. He returned to Goma in May, following two years of self-imposed exile in South Africa, after M23 rebels took control of the city in January. According to the charge sheet, seen by France's AFP news agency, Kabila allegedly helped form the Congo River Alliance (AFC) – the M23's political wing. He's accused of colluding with Rwanda to try to "overthrow by force the power established by law". Kabila's successor, President Tshisekedi, has branded him the brains behind the rebel movement, which has seized swathes of the resource-rich Congolese east with Rwanda's help. The militia and the government signed a pledge in July to seek a permanent ceasefire. Congo Hold-Up: on the trail of Joseph Kabila's mystery company 'Political' trial Emmanuel Shadari, secretary-general of Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), dismissed the trial as "political" arguing it would "divide the Congolese people" during peace negotiations. The proceeding "is anything but a fair trial. With a justice system that is not independent, the conviction is already decided – the rest is theatre, a ridiculous staging," Shadari said. Deputy Justice Minister Samuel Mbemba told reporters at the hearing: "The courts do not negotiate, they will do their work independently." M23 and AFC leaders deny any affiliation with the former president. Benjamin Mbonimpa, the groups' executive secretary, said that the government should not "label him an AFC/M23 member" just because he had come to the city. He branded the trial part of a "malevolent strategy" against the ex-president. Kabila, 54, who ruled the DRC from 2001 to 2019, has rejected the trial as "arbitrary" and accused the judiciary of acting as "an instrument of oppression". The Senate lifted his immunity as senator for life to allow the case to proceed. Former DR Congo president Kabila loses immunity over alleged M23 rebel ties The hearing was adjourned after several hours to 31 July, following a request by prosecutors for extra time to review documents. Eastern DRC has endured armed conflict for decades, with violence escalating since M23's resurgence in 2021. Rwanda denies military support for the group, though UN experts say its army has played a "critical" role in M23's operations. The DRC lifted a moratorium on the death penalty last year but no judicial executions have been carried out since. From 1960 to present day, 11 dates that explain the conflict in the DRC (with newswires)


Fox News
7 minutes ago
- Fox News
Hamas pushes back on Trump and Witkoff's criticisms, demands US pressure Israel
Hamas rejected criticism from top U.S. officials after ceasefire talks with Israel broke down earlier in the week. "We are appalled by the statements of U.S. President Trump and earlier by U.S. special envoy Witkoff, which contradict the mediators' assessment of Hamas' position and are inconsistent with the actual progress of negotiations that had been acknowledged by mediators, particularly Qatar and Egypt, as they expressed satisfaction and appreciation for our serious and constructive stance," Izzat Al-Rishq, member of Hamas Movement's Political Bureau, said in a statement. Al-Rishq went on to claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government was "the real obstructionist to all agreements," accusing Israeli officials of continuing to "put up obstacles, deceive, and evade commitments." He then demanded that the U.S. put more pressure on Israel "to seriously engage in ending the aggression and achieving a prisoner exchange deal," presumably referring to the remaining hostages in Gaza and Palestinians in Israeli prisons. The Trump administration has spent months trying to end the war between Israel and Hamas, with no resolution in sight. Hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza dimmed further after the U.S. pulled its delegation out of Qatar. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said in a statement that this was because Hamas' response to negotiations showed "a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza." "While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith. We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza," Witkoff said in a statement Thursday. Witkoff added that it was a "shame" Hamas has acted in such a "selfish way" and that the U.S. stands resolute in its efforts to bring permanent peace to the region. On the same day the U.S. announced its negotiators would leave Qatar, Netanyahu's office said the Israeli team would also withdraw, citing Hamas' response. President Donald Trump expressed his disappointment in Hamas' handling of the negotiations while speaking with press outside the White House on Friday. He speculated that Hamas did not want to make a deal because "they know what happens after you get the final hostages" out of Gaza. "Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die, and it's very, very bad," Trump said. "It got to be to a point where you're going to have to finish the job." Qatar and Egypt, which have acted as mediators in the talks, issued a joint statement on Friday in which the countries confirmed they would continue to work on securing a ceasefire. "The two countries, in partnership with the United States of America, reaffirm their commitment to continuing efforts toward reaching a comprehensive agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip," Qatar and Egypt's joint statement read. While the breakdown of negotiations is a clear setback, talks are expected to resume next week, according to Reuters, which cited Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
UK working with Jordan to air drop aid into Gaza, PM tells Macron and Merz
The UK is working with Jordan on plans to air drop aid into Gaza and evacuate children needing medical assistance, Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed in a call with French and German counterparts. The Prime Minister held emergency talks with Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz on Saturday amid mounting global anger at the starving population in the enclave. In a readout of the call, Number 10 said the leaders had agreed 'it would be vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently needed ceasefire into lasting peace'. 'The Prime Minister set out how the UK will also be taking forward plans to work with partners such as Jordan to air drop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance,' the readout said.