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Business Insider
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Draft deal sparks fresh hope for peace in battle-scarred Congo
Efforts to resolve the lengthy violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have moved forward, with mediators reporting that a draft peace accord has been exchanged with both the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group. 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.
Business Insider
7 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Fragility of Congo–rebel peace deal exposed as both sides trade accusations
The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) eastern region has seen a resurgence of tensions after the Congolese army accused the M23 rebel group on Tuesday of carrying out several attacks despite existing peace accords. The Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern region is experiencing renewed unrest involving the M23 rebel group despite existing peace negotiations. Both the Congolese army and the M23 group accuse one another of violating agreements and mobilizing forces, exacerbating tensions. Peace negotiations mediated in Washington and Doha face delays, with scheduled discussions and agreements unmet. To highlight the fragility of the current mediation process, Congo's army issued a warning that it reserved the right to respond to any further provocations. The army's statement claims that the attacks violate agreements negotiated in Washington and Doha to put an end to the long-running strife in the mineral-rich area. A day prior, M23 had accused Congolese forces of inciting more soldiers and breaking a statement of principles made in Doha on July 19 that promised support for a lasting truce, as reported by Reuters. The torrent of allegations comes as peace negotiations, which were supposed to start in Doha last week, face prolonged delays. Under the July 19 proclamation, both parties agreed to begin discussions on August 8 and reach a final agreement by August 18. However, neither delegation is currently present in Doha. M23 commander Bertrand Bisimwa alleged last week that the rebel faction had not received an official invitation to the negotiations. The organization also accused the Congolese army of mobilizing troops and military weapons in six different sites, indicating a potential escalation. Peace talks between the DRC and the M23 rebels The latest developments follow a series of diplomatic interventions aimed at resolving the crisis. On July 31, Rwanda, which has been accused of backing the M23 rebels, and the DRC held their first Joint Oversight Committee meeting in Washington, a direct result of mediation efforts by Qatar and the US. Earlier in March, Qatar hosted a new round of negotiations after DRC President Félix Tshisekedi attended a joint conference of Eastern and Southern African leaders in Tanzania in February, convened in response to escalating violence. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) have attempted to mediate the conflict by appointing African leaders such as former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to lead peace efforts.
Business Insider
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
How 2025 could mark the beginning of the end for Rwanda-Congo hostilities
Although military conflicts have long plagued Africa's Great Lakes region, the relationship between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, its eastern neighbor, saw a significant shift in 2025. Conflict in Eastern Congo escalated in 2025 with attacks by the M23 rebel group on Goma, prompting international condemnation. While Angola and other mediators failed initially, Qatar facilitated renewed dialogue between representatives of Rwanda and the DRC. U.S.-brokered discussions led to the establishment of a Joint Oversight Committee in Washington, marking a diplomatic breakthrough. What began as another tragic chapter in the ongoing instability of eastern Congo escalated into a full-blown geopolitical crisis, culminating in a series of peace talks that may yet redefine the region's future. M23's offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo Conflict flared up again in January 2025, when the M23 rebel group, long suspected of getting help from Rwanda, launched a concerted attack on Goma, a crucial city in eastern DRC. The onslaught was savage and swift, killing hundreds of civilians and causing significant displacement. Within days, more than 900 dead were discovered on Goma's streets. The world condemned Rwanda, and it came under tremendous scrutiny for its alleged involvement in the attacks. Despite Kigali's denials of complicity, regional and international players imposed sanctions and threatened economic repercussions. A path to peace following weeks of bloodshed In early February, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi attended a joint conference of Eastern and Southern African leaders in Tanzania. The event was held in reaction to the escalating violence, which had resulted in a humanitarian crisis. Despite M23's unilateral ceasefire, their advance into Bukavu in South Kivu continued, demonstrating the fragility of any informal agreements. Recognizing the urgency, both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) intervened. In a significant display of solidarity, they nominated three African politicians to promote peace talks: former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. The mediators brought credibility, expertise, and a pan-African mandate to the bargaining table, but failed to achieve any significant milestone in creating peace. By March, Kinshasa was still adamant about not dealing directly with the M23 rebels, despite regional pressure. The DRC administration said that granting them legitimacy at the negotiating table would compromise national sovereignty and accused the organization of serving as a foreign proxy. This hardened position was reinforced even as global actors, such as the United Kingdom, called for inclusive dialogue involving all parties. Angola was introduced as a new possible mediator on March 12. In contrast to previous diplomatic attempts that mostly ignored the rebel organization, it suggested direct talks between the Congolese government and the M23. A few days later, on March 18, the Angola-led discussions collapsed as the M23 delegation left, blaming influence from other parties, mainly EU sanctions. A week later, Angola formally ended its mediation role, preferring to focus on African Union initiatives. Enter Qatar and the U.S.: A Diplomatic Pivot By late March, a new round of negotiations sprang up, this time hosted by Qatar. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC met through Qatari mediation. A joint statement issued by both parties, together with Qatar, acknowledged previous peace initiatives, notably the Luanda and Nairobi talks, and suggested a fresh push to engage diplomatically. Qatar selected April 9 as the official date for the next round of peace negotiations in Doha. As the new diplomatic impetus grew, the United States intervened more urgently. By late April, US assistance had helped take discussions closer to a solid framework. On April 25, in Washington, Rwanda and the DRC agreed to work toward a peace and economic cooperation deal, one that emphasized mutual respect for sovereignty and the creation of a comprehensive draft agreement by May 2nd. Conditions for Peace With diplomatic lines more active than ever, the U.S. began to demand harsher terms to move the process along. Among these was the demand that Rwanda withdraw all of its military personnel from eastern Congo, a vital trust-building gesture viewed as non-negotiable by both Kinshasa and international observers. Diplomats from the United States also requested guarantees about the cessation of cross-border funding for armed groups, verification procedures, and initiatives to foster economic growth in the eastern provinces, which have been neglected and destroyed by decades of turmoil. Washington's presence added weight to the discussions and helped alter the tone from antagonism to cautious collaboration. July 31: A First Step in Implementation The culmination of these efforts occurred on July 31, 2025, when Rwanda and the DRC hosted the first meeting of their Joint Oversight Committee in Washington. This committee was entrusted with supervising the gradual implementation of the US-brokered peace deal. This encounter signaled a watershed moment in the two countries' long-strained relationship. While tensions have not been completely resolved, and suspicions remain high, the establishment of a joint committee showed a mutual acknowledgment of the importance of structured, verifiable action. It also showed the role of external diplomacy in pushing both countries toward responsibility and partnership. Long Shadows and Lingering Questions Even while these diplomatic breakthroughs provide some reassurance, the tasks ahead are severe. The underlying grievances, land rights, ethnic conflicts, regional power struggles, and rivalry for mineral wealth have not magically gone away. Similarly, trust between Kigali and Kinshasa is tenuous at best. One accord is unlikely to demolish the region's decades-long history of proxy wars and changing allegiances. Nonetheless, 2025 may be regarded as the year in which both parties made significant progress toward long-term peace. While the path ahead remains undefined, and the conflict's origins are deep, the formation of a Joint Oversight Committee and the US-backed framework for collaboration are significant steps forward.
Qatar Tribune
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar facilitates breakthrough peace declaration in Democratic Republic of the Congo
DOHA In a landmark diplomatic achievement, Qatar has helped broker a historic Declaration of Principles between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement (M23), paving the way for a comprehensive peace deal aimed at ending more than three decades of violence in the eastern part of the country. The agreement, signed in Doha on Saturday, marked what many observers described as a turning point in the DRC's long-running conflict. It came after months of Qatari-led efforts that brought warring parties together for direct and indirect negotiations. These efforts culminated in a crucial meeting held in Qatar between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, under the auspices of His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Speaking at a joint press conference following the signing ceremony, Minister of State at Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi emphasized that the declaration represents more than just a ceasefire, it sets the groundwork for a sustainable and just peace that meets the aspirations of the Congolese people for stability, dignity, and development. Al Khulaifi described the declaration as a milestone, noting that it goes beyond earlier frameworks by offering a clearer structure for implementation and more concrete political commitments. He credited the breakthrough to the spirit of cooperation demonstrated by both parties, praising President Tshisekedi and Bertrand Bisimwa, leader of the Congo River Alliance/M23, for their resolve in choosing dialogue over confrontation. 'This is not merely a suspension of violence,' Al Khulaifi said. 'This is a roadmap toward re-establishing governance, rebuilding lives, and giving the Congolese people a real opportunity for peace.' He reiterated that the State of Qatar played a central role in facilitating the dialogue that led to the agreement, expressing full confidence in the willingness of both sides to follow through on their commitments. Qatar, he confirmed, would continue to support the implementation phase, which is expected to begin immediately. Al Khulaifi also extended Qatar's gratitude to international and regional partners who played key roles in supporting the mediation process. He singled out the African Union, represented by its Chairperson Mahmoud Ali; the Republic of Togo; and the United States, whose Special Envoy to Africa, Massad Boulos, was closely involved in the negotiations. Additional thanks were given to Rwanda, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands-based Dialogue Group for their technical and diplomatic support. 'This achievement embodies Qatar's belief in mediation as a powerful diplomatic tool,' Al Khulaifi added. 'We are proud to have provided a neutral and constructive platform that allowed peace to become possible.' Boulos, speaking on behalf of the US delegation, echoed that sentiment. He hailed the agreement as a definitive end to one of the world's longest-running and deadliest conflicts, pointing out that the violence had taken the lives of more than six million people and displaced over eight million others. The Doha Declaration, he said, was not only a diplomatic win, but a humanitarian imperative. 'This is a historic day for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,' Boulos declared. 'We now have a final peace agreement that offers no path back to war—only a way forward to reconciliation, development, and national unity.' He emphasized that what distinguishes the Doha Declaration from previous attempts is its actionable structure. The document includes a fixed timetable for the fulfillment of its provisions and addresses not only security matters but also the root causes of the conflict, such as marginalization, economic disparity, and contested territorial control. According to Boulos, it represents the first major African policy milestone of the current US administration. He concluded with a congratulatory message to the Congolese people, describing the agreement as 'a new dawn for a nation long denied peace despite its immense potential.'
Daily Maverick
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Domestic power struggles likely to complicate US brokered Rwanda-DRC peace deal
Peace efforts must acknowledge the deeply political nature of the eastern DRC crisis, including the fallout from the collapsed power-sharing deal between Joseph Kabila and Félix Tshisekedi. Recent efforts to resolve the M23 crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have taken a new turn. After the breakdown of the Angola-led Luanda talks in mid-December 2024, a joint East African Community-Southern African Development Community attempt to merge the Luanda and Nairobi processes started in early 2025. However, Qatar ultimately facilitated the April Doha dialogue between Kinshasa and the M23 rebel group with its political affiliate, Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC). Then, on 27 June, regional talks spearheaded by the US led to a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda. The US-brokered negotiations aim to secure the Rwandan forces' withdrawal from eastern DRC and end Rwanda's support to AFC/M23. The incentive for doing so is the DRC's commitment to neutralising the Forces Démocratiques pour la libération du Rwanda (FDLR) armed group – Rwanda's main security concern in east DRC. Despite its significance, the deal faces criticism for trading Congolese sovereignty for US access to critical minerals, as part of a transactional form of peace mediation. Previous agreements that bargained Rwandan withdrawal in exchange for actions against the FDLR failed after they were repeatedly violated, leading to more violence. The current plan for FDLR neutralisation and Rwandan withdrawal was developed initially under the Luanda process – before M23's takeover of Goma and Bukavu – making it outdated. It fails to address the question of military operations against the FDLR in rebel-held territory, and doesn't deal with the Rwandan and rebel presence far outside zones of FDLR influence. Congolese and US efforts to obtain a Rwandan withdrawal before signing the deal failed, making Rwanda's retreat conditional on anti-FDLR measures. Given the FDLR's deep entrenchment and the lack of clear criteria for 'neutralisation', these terms risk prolonging both Rwandan and rebel occupation, rather than ending it. AFC/M23 leadership has called the Rwanda-DRC peace agreement a 'useful, but limited, step'. The deal is meant to provide leverage for a settlement with AFC/M23, which Kinshasa hopes to sign before a Washington heads of state summit in July. M23 has announced new rounds of talks, though progress has stalled. AFC/M23 accuses the DRC government of refusing concessions, while Kinshasa questions the rebellion's willingness to withdraw. Although AFC/M23 says confidence-building measures are needed to start talks, it ultimately favours a political settlement that ensures its long-term influence in eastern DRC. Kinshasa, however, prefers rebel integration on a case-by-case basis, seeing AFC/M23 as largely beholden to Rwandan interests – an assessment consistently backed by United Nations reports. The challenge is that a Rwandan withdrawal, while necessary for a domestic peace process, might also bury the deal's prospects, as Rwandan backing has been central to M23's strength in any negotiations. Domestic political complexities further complicate peace talks, particularly since former president Joseph Kabila resurfaced. The difficult relationship between President Félix Tshisekedi and the AFC/M23 is shaped by internal power struggles with Kabila. After a bargain with Kabila brought Tshisekedi to power in 2019, political control largely remained with Kabila. To compensate for this, Tshisekedi relied on regional diplomacy, enhancing security and economic cooperation with Rwanda and initiating dialogue with exiled M23 leaders. When he broke with Kabila in 2020 and consolidated power, Rwandan cooperation and M23 dialogue ended, enabling the group's resurgence in November 2021. The collapse of this power-sharing arrangement prompted Corneille Nangaa, former electoral commission chair and facilitator of the 2019 deal, to form the M23-aligned AFC. This hardened Kinshasa's stance, reinforcing its refusal to negotiate and efforts to weaken the exiled Kabila, considered the architect of the AFC/M23 alliance. In late 2024, Kabila re-emerged with fellow Katangan politician Moïse Katumbi to oppose Tshisekedi's proposed constitutional reforms. They made joint calls for national dialogue alongside opposition figures like Martin Fayulu, who was sidelined by the Kabila-Tshisekedi 2019 power-sharing deal. Kinshasa used legal and political means to target Kabila. He returned to the DRC in May 2025 via rebel-held eastern territory, where he remains. Kabila's motives remain speculative, ranging from a sincere desire for peace to personal and political gain. He positions himself as a key actor in an eventual peace process by engaging in local dialogues with communities, religious and customary leaders, and rebel authorities in the eastern DRC. Inspired by the Inter-Congolese Dialogue that ended the 2002 Second Congo War, Kabila hopes a national dialogue would allow for renewed political bargaining, reversing political and legal actions against him, his family and allies. One setting for such a dialogue is the National Episcopal Conference of Congo-Church of Christ in Congo (CENCO-ECC) peace initiative, which proposes a broad conversation on the root causes of conflict in the east, potentially involving rebel groups. However, the government seeks to exclude AFC/M23 and its allies. Encouraged by Fayulu's recent outreach to form a 'camp de la Patrie', Tshisekedi is framing national dialogue around a divide between a 'republican front' and a 'rebel front' linked to Rwanda, the AFC/M23 and Kabila. He hopes the peace deal with Rwanda will strengthen his domestic position and lead to a unity government opposed to the country's balkanisation. Kabila's relations with M23 and Rwanda remain ambiguous. While both might consider him useful for gaining leverage, past experiences make them wary. He also lacks regional backing. Ugandan military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba recently blamed Kabila for regional instability and opposed Kabila's call for foreign forces to withdraw. Instead, Uganda signed a bilateral agreement expanding military operations in eastern DRC, aligning with Tshisekedi despite Uganda's ambiguous stance on M23. While Kabila may use the M23 crisis to reassert his political relevance, Tshisekedi's approach appears driven by a desire to sideline him. The result is growing political fragmentation that could undermine peace prospects. Yet the alternative – broad political inclusion – carries risks too, potentially providing legitimacy and political payoffs to insurgent violence. The question of inclusion must be approached cautiously, drawing lessons from past peace deals that prioritised integration but failed to resolve underlying issues. For the Rwanda-DRC deal to provide a route to peace, implementation must be thorough, requiring sustained US engagement and pressure. Peace efforts must also acknowledge the deeply political nature of the eastern DRC crisis. That includes the fallout from the collapsed power-sharing deal between Kabila and Tshisekedi, growing polarisation, democratic backsliding and deteriorating governance. Nevertheless, the Doha process and particularly the CENCO-ECC initiative should not become politicised by the struggle between Kabila and Tshisekedi. A CENCO-ECC-led national dialogue could examine how insurgent violence and politics have become so intertwined, enabling a shift from a culture of impunity to a path of justice, accountability and peace. DM
