Latest news with #Rwanda-backed
Herald Malaysia
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Partial peace agreement for DRC signed in Qatar
Following ongoing turmoil in the Democratic Republic of Congo, representatives of the Kinshasa government and the M23 rebel group meet in Qatar and sign a declaration of intent, which includes a permanent ceasefire. Jul 23, 2025 Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs stands between peace mediator Sumbu Sita Mambu, a high representative of the head of state in DRC (left) and Rwanda-backed armed group M23 executive secretary Benjamin Mbonimp (right) as they sign a ceasefire deal in Doha on July 19, 2025 (AFP or licensors) By Deborah Castellano LubovA partial peace agreement has been signed for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), raising hopes of a more peaceful future for the embattled country. On Saturday in Doha, Qatar, representatives of the Kinshasa government and the M23 rebel group signed a declaration of intent, which includes a permanent ceasefire and outlines a roadmap for the restoration of state authority in eastern DRC, according to Italian news agency AGI. The Declaration commits to launching formal negotiations as soon as possible with a view toward a 'comprehensive peace agreement.' Violence-plagued region In the region, the frontlines have remained unchanged since February, but, AGI reports, violence continues between M23 and pro-Kinshasa militias engaged in guerrilla operations. For over 30 years, Eastern DRC, a region rich in minerals, has been plagued by conflict, and previous peace agreements and ceasefires have been repeatedly violated in recent years. In recent months, following a lightning offensive by M23 and Rwandan troops against the Congolese army, violence has erupted along the region bordering Rwanda. According to the United Nations and Congolese government, this has resulted in thousands of deaths, worsening a humanitarian crisis involving hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Peace requires efforts, support and making concessions The DRC's Minister of the Interior, Jacquemain Sabani, reflected on the ceasefire agreement signed with the M23 armed group, which is supported by Rwanda, calling this breakthrough a step closer to peace, during a briefing co-hosted with fellow Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya. After three decades of unrest, Minister Shabani reasoned, 'Peace is a choice,' adding, 'I am confident and fully convinced that we are close to peace," and that this is an "important project we have the responsibility to build.' Yet, he argued, this requires work. 'We must prepare the population to move toward this goal,' and must be prepared to make 'concessions.' Working toward definitive peace With this sentiment, Communications Minister Muyaya echoed, 'We want a definitive peace, a lasting peace.' Since the document signed by both parties also outlines restoring state authority in eastern DRC once the peace agreement is signed, he noted, for the government, this entails 'redeploying the administration and public forces' in the M23-controlled territories, while reassuring that this will be the subject of a process to be 'described in detail in the peace agreement.'--Vatican News
Qatar Tribune
8 hours ago
- Climate
- Qatar Tribune
Up to 500 miners buried by landslides in eastern Congo
KinshasacTypeface:> Up to 500 miners are believed to be trapped in eastern Congo following a series of landslides, police in the province of South Kivu said on Tuesday. Ten bodies have been recovered since the collapse in a remote area on Sunday, a police spokesman said. Volunteers are working to recover the remaining bodies and survivors, he said. Information on the exact number of casualties is difficult to verify, as the affected miners did not work for a company but were working in the informal mining sector in the resource-rich area. Numerous internally displaced people who had fled the ongoing fighting between government troops and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo are also said to be among those buried. The hilly area was recently hit by heavy rains. According to the police spokesman, landslides were also reported in villages in the region. However, there have been no reports of casualties so far. (dpa)
Egypt Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels sign declaration of principles for a permanent ceasefire in the east
AP — Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels on Saturday signed a declaration of principles in Qatar to end decades-long fighting in eastern Congo that commits them to a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive peace agreement to be signed in one month. A final peace deal is to be signed no later than August 18, and it 'shall align with the Peace Agreement between Congo and Rwanda' facilitated by the US in June, according to a copy of the declaration seen by The Associated Press. The agreement of principles touches on most of the highlights of the peace deal Congo and Rwanda signed June 27. It is the first direct commitment by both side since the rebels seized two key cities in eastern Congo in a major advance. 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. A key issue has been whether Rwanda will pull their support for the rebels, including the thousands of troops that the United Nations experts said are in eastern Congo. When Rwanda and Congo signed the peace deal in Washington, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said Rwanda agreed to lift its 'defensive measures' – suggesting a reference to its troops in eastern Congo – once Congo neutralizes an armed group whose members Kigali accuses of carrying out the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Analysts have said it is going to be difficult for the M23 rebels to withdraw from the eastern Congolese cities of Goma and Bukavu seized earlier this year and that it would depend on concessions Congolese authorities agree to make.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels pledge to end decades-long war. Here's what to know
DAKAR, Senegal — The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels have signed a declaration of principles for a permanent ceasefire in eastern Congo, where ethnic tensions and a quest for rich minerals have resulted in one of Africa's longest conflicts, with thousands killed this year alone. The African Union called Saturday's signing, facilitated by Qatar, a 'major milestone' in peace efforts. Qatari authorities said it paves the way for 'a comprehensive peace that addresses the deep-rooted causes of the conflict' in the Central African nation. Rwanda-backed M23 is the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups fighting for control in eastern Congo. With 7 million people displaced in the country, the United Nations has called the conflict 'one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.' The conflict can be traced to the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide of 1994, when Hutu soldiers and militias killed between 500,000 and 1 million minority Tutsis as well as moderate Hutus and the Indigenous Twa. When Tutsi-led rebels stopped the genocide and ousted the Hutu government, nearly 2 million Hutus fled into neighboring Congo, fearing reprisals. Rwandan authorities accused the authorities in Kinshasa of sheltering those responsible for the mass killings among the civilian refugees, most of whom had returned when Rwanda first invaded Congo in 1996. But Kigali said the remaining Hutu fighters in eastern Congo are still a threat to Rwanda's Tutsi population, and wants them neutralized. At least 6 million people have been killed since then in the conflict, mostly characterized by on-and-off fighting but also famines and unchecked disease outbreaks. Analysts have said a lot of interests in the conflict in Congo are tied to the mostly untapped minerals in the east, estimated to be worth as much as $24 trillion by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Trump administration has pushed to gain access to the minerals key to much of the world's technology. It is also to counter China, a key player in the region where the U.S. presence and influence have eroded. That is already playing out with KoBold Metals, a U.S. mining company that announced Friday it has signed an agreement with Congo for a 'large-scale minerals exploration program' in the east. Rwanda's interests are also tied to the minerals, although it often says its involvement is to protect its territory and punish those connected to the 1994 genocide. A team of United Nations experts said in a report in December that Rwanda was benefiting from minerals 'fraudulently' exported from areas under the control of the M23 rebels. Rwanda denied this. Although the M23 has touted itself as a group independent of Rwanda and capable of governing territories under its control, it still relies heavily on Kigali. U.N. experts estimate there are up to 4,000 Rwandan troops in eastern Congo. The U.N. and rights groups have accused both sides of committing atrocities and possible war crimes since fighting escalated in January. It includes children being killed in summary executions, the rape and sexual abuse of thousands of children, attacks on hospitals, forced recruitments and disappearance of residents in rebel-held areas. 'We cannot build peace without justice and reparation,' Goma resident Amani Muisa said. The declaration of principles was the first direct commitment by both sides since the rebels seized two key cities in eastern Congo in a major advance early this year. The signing sets in motion negotiations for a final peace deal, to be signed no later than Aug. 18. It also reflects provisions of a U.S.-brokered peace deal signed between Congo and Rwanda on June 27. However, the ink had barely dried on the document signed in Qatar before both sides appeared to contradict each other in interpreting a major highlight of the declaration on whether the rebels will withdraw from seized territories. Bertrand Bisimwa, an M23 leader, said Saturday on X that the declaration is 'not a question of withdrawal but of mechanisms for empowering the state, enabling it to assume its prerogatives and obligations.' M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka told the Associated Press in a telephone call, 'We are in Goma with the population and we are not going to get out.' But Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said the declaration takes into account 'the nonnegotiable withdrawal' of the rebels, followed by the deployment of government forces and institutions. Asadu writes for the Associated Press.
NBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Congo and rebels have committed to ending war in the east. Here's what to know.
DAKAR, Senegal — Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels have signed a declaration of principles for a permanent ceasefire in eastern Congo, where ethnic tensions and quest for rich minerals have resulted in one of Africa's longest conflicts with thousands killed this year. The African Union called Saturday's signing, facilitated by Qatar, a "major milestone" in peace efforts. Qatari authorities said it paves the way for "a comprehensive peace that addresses the deep-rooted causes of the conflict." But the ink has barely dried on the document signed in Qatar before both sides appeared to contradict each other in interpreting a major highlight of the declaration. Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said the declaration takes into account "the non-negotiable withdrawal" of the rebels from seized territories, including the biggest city of Goma. The M23 rebels denied this, with a spokesman telling The Associated Press: "We are in Goma with the population and we are not going to get out." The declaration is supposed to lead to a final peace deal The declaration of principles was the first direct commitment by both sides since the rebels, supported by neighboring Rwanda, seized two key cities in eastern Congo in a major advance early this year. In it, both parties committed to "building trust" through various measures, including an exchange of prisoners and detainees as well as restoring state authority in all parts of the country, including rebel-held areas. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which has been mentioned as a key party in facilitating such release, said after the signing that it "stands ready to help." The signing sets in motion negotiations for a final peace deal, to be signed no later than Aug. 18. It also reflects provisions of a U.S.-brokered peace deal signed between Congo and Rwanda on June 27. Both the U.S.-facilitated and Qatar-led peace talks are aligned, and the Congolese and Rwandan presidents are soon expected in Washington to finalize negotiations for ending the conflict. The conflict dates back to the Rwandan genocide The conflict can be traced to the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide of 1994, when Hutu soldiers and militias killed between 500,000 and 1 million minority Tutsis as well as moderate Hutus and the Indigenous Twa. When Tutsi-led rebels stopped the genocide and ousted the Hutu government, nearly 2 million Hutus fled into neighboring Congo, fearing reprisals. Rwandan authorities accused the authorities in Kinshasa of sheltering those responsible for the mass killings among the civilian refugees, most of whom had returned when Rwanda first invaded Congo in 1996. But Kigali said the remaining Hutu fighters in eastern Congo are still a threat to Rwanda's Tutsi population, and wants them neutralized. At least 6 million people have been killed in the conflict since then, mostly characterized by on-and-off fighting but also famines and unchecked disease outbreaks. Minerals hold key to the conflict Analysts have said a lot of interests in the conflict in Congo are tied to the mostly untapped minerals in the east, estimated to be worth as much as $24 trillion by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Trump administration has pushed to gain access to the minerals key to much of the world's technology. It is also to counter China, a key player in the region where the U.S. presence and influence have eroded. That is already playing out with KoBold Metals, a U.S. mining company that on Friday announced it has signed an agreement with Congo for "large-scale minerals exploration program" in the east. Rwanda's interests are also tied to the conflict minerals, although it often says its involvement is to protect its territory and punish those connected to the 1994 genocide. A team of U.N. experts said in a report in December that Rwanda was benefitting from minerals "fraudulently" exported from areas under the control of the M23. Rwanda has denied it. Although the M23 has touted itself as a group independent of Rwanda and capable of governing territories under its control, it still relies heavily on Kigali. U.N. experts estimate there are up to 4,000 Rwandan troops in eastern Congo. Justice remains a major issue The U.N. and rights groups have accused both sides of committing atrocities and possible war crimes since fighting escalated in January. It includes children being killed in summary executions, the rape and sexual abuse of thousands of children, attacks on hospitals, forced recruitments and disappearance of residents in rebel-held areas.
