DRC and M23 rebels sign ceasefire deal
Under the deal, the warring parties agreed to open negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement. The deal, which the two sides said aligns with the Washington agreement, also includes a roadmap for restoring state authority in eastern DRC. "The Parties commit to uphold their commitment to a permanent ceasefire," including refraining from "hate propaganda" and "any attempt to seize by force new positions," said the agreement.
The M23, which seized vast swathes of territory in eastern DRC in a lightning offensive in January and February, had insisted on seeking its own ceasefire deal with Kinshasa, saying the Washington deal left out various "problems" that still needed to be addressed.
The African Union hailed the new deal as a "significant development", saying: "This... marks a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability in eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region."
Full agreement to follow
Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said the deal took account of the DRC's "red lines," including "the non-negotiable withdrawal of the M23 from occupied areas followed by the deployment of our institutions," including the national armed forces. He said a comprehensive peace agreement would follow "in the coming days."
The deal said the two sides had agreed to implement its terms by July 29 at the latest, and to start direct negotiations toward a permanent agreement by August 8.
Previous ceasefire agreements for eastern DRC have collapsed in the past.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi are due to meet in the coming months to solidify the Washington peace deal, whose terms have not yet been implemented. Neighbouring Rwanda denies providing military backing to the M23, but UN experts say that the Rwandan army played a "critical" role in the group's offensive, including combat operations.
Rich in natural resources, especially lucrative minerals, eastern DRC has been racked by conflict for more than three decades, creating a humanitarian crisis and forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
Thousands were killed in the M23 offensive earlier this year, which saw the group capture the key provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu. The front line has stabilised since February, but fighting was still breaking out regularly between the M23 and multiple pro-government militias.
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