Latest news with #Congolese-Rwandan
L'Orient-Le Jour
5 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
DRCongo, M23 armed group sign cease-fire deal in Qatar
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed armed group M23 signed a cease-fire deal on Saturday to end fighting that has devastated the country's mineral-rich but conflict-torn east. The truce was agreed in a Declaration of Principles signed by the two sides after three months of talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, which follows a separate Congolese-Rwandan peace deal signed in Washington last month. "The Parties commit to uphold their commitment to a permanent cease-fire," including refraining from "hate propaganda" and "any attempt to seize by force new positions," a statement said. The African Union hailed it as a "significant development," adding, "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." The M23, which seized vast swathes of mineral-rich territory in eastern DRC in a lightning offensive in January and February, had insisted on seeking its own cease-fire deal with Kinshasa. It stated that the Washington deal omitted various "problems" that still needed to be addressed. The warring parties agreed to open negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement. The deal also includes a roadmap for restoring state authority in eastern DRC. Eastern DRC has been mired in 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 had stabilised since February, but fighting was still breaking out regularly between the M23 and multiple pro-government militias.
Sharjah 24
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sharjah 24
DRC, M23 rebels sign ceasefire deal
The truce was agreed in a declaration of principles signed by the two sides after three months of talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, which follows a separate Congolese-Rwandan peace deal signed in Washington last month, according to AP. 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 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. Backed by neighboring Rwanda, the M23 is the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups fighting for control in Congo's mineral-rich east. With 7 million people displaced in Congo, the UN has called the conflict in eastern Congo 'one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.' It was not immediately clear what the specific terms of a final peace agreement would be and what concessions would be made. M23 had been pushing for the release of its members held by Congo's army, many of them facing the death sentence. Congo had requested the withdrawal of the rebels from seized territories.
Al Etihad
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Etihad
Democratic Republic of Congo, M23 rebels sign ceasefire deal
19 July 2025 18:18 DOHA (AGENCIES)The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda-backed armed group M23 signed a ceasefire deal on Saturday, July 19, to end fighting that has devastated the country's mineral-rich but conflict-torn truce was agreed in a declaration of principles signed by the two sides after three months of talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, which follows a separate Congolese-Rwandan peace deal signed in Washington last month, according to 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 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 by neighbouring Rwanda, the M23 is the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups fighting for control in Congo's mineral-rich east. With 7 million people displaced in Congo, the UN has called the conflict in eastern Congo 'one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.'It was not immediately clear what the specific terms of a final peace agreement would be and what concessions would be made. M23 had been pushing for the release of its members held by Congo's army, many of them facing the death sentence. Congo had requested the withdrawal of the rebels from seized territories.
LeMonde
5 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
DRC and M23 rebels sign ceasefire deal
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed armed group M23 signed a ceasefire deal on Saturday, July 19, to end fighting that has devastated the country's mineral-rich but conflict-torn east. The truce was agreed in a declaration of principles signed by the two sides after three months of talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, which follows a separate Congolese-Rwandan peace deal signed in Washington last month. 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.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
DRC and M23 reach historic ceasefire deal in Qatar to end long-standing conflict
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed armed group M23 signed a ceasefire deal on Saturday to end fighting that has devastated the country's mineral-rich but conflict-torn east. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed armed group M23 signed a ceasefire deal on Saturday to end fighting that has devastated the country's mineral-rich but conflict-torn east. The truce was agreed in a Declaration of Principles signed by the two sides after three months of talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, which follows a separate Congolese-Rwandan peace deal signed in Washington last month. "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", a statement said. The African Union hailed it as a "significant development", adding: "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".
