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DW
15 hours ago
- Politics
- DW
DRC conflict: Is the peace deal with M23 faltering? – DW – 08/20/2025
The Congolese government and M23 rebels missed a crucial deadline to sign a draft peace agreement in Doha amid new reports of rights abuses by the rebel group. Is the peace deal process falling apart? On July 19th, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels signed the Doha Declaration of Principlesbrokered by Qatar. This was significant as it built on a peace deal the DRC and Rwanda signed in Washington on June 27. In it, the two rivals vowed to reach a peace deal no later than Monday, August 18. Yet early this week, M23 representatives were nowhere to be found at the negotiating table in Qatar. In a statement on Sunday, the M23 movement claimed that only the full implementation of the Doha Declaration of Principles, including the release of prisoners, would allow them to participate in the next round of talks. Currently, M23 largely controls the two eastern provinces of North and South Kivu. To further complicate matters, new reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International allege that M23 rebels killed nearly 140 people in July. The two reports also accuse M23 and other militia groups of committing widespread sexual abuses in eastern Congo. Major demands by conflicting parties are jeopardizing the Democratic Republic of Congo's chance at peace. A lack of trust seems to be hanging over peace negotiations brokered by multiple mediators. "Nobody is meeting the demands of the other. One would have expected a great deal of flexibility on the Congolese side in trying to respond to the demands of the M23," Nkere Ntanda, a political scientist from the University of Kinshasa, told DW. The Kinshasa government is demanding total withdrawal of the AFC/M23 rebels and an end to external support, while the latter wants political and security guarantees before any disarmament. The opposing sides remain highly skeptical of each other. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "The demands from both sides reflect legitimate concerns. This is a normal situation in any kind of negotiation, but these demands also highlight how far apart the parties remain," said Yvon Muya, a researcher at the School of Conflict Studies at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. Kinshasa stresses the importance of implementing a monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance with commitments. "We need a neutral mechanism on the ground to verify the withdrawal and disarmament, because peace will not come from unilateral surrender or total impunity, but from a well-monitored and well-balanced compromise between the two parties," says Christian Lumu Lukusa, a notable political activist and youth leader in the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the party of Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi. The failure to reach an agreement could result in continued conflict and rebel advancements, say analysts. Currently, both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. Reagen Miviri, a conflict analyst at the Congolese Institute Ebuteli, fears violence will escalate dramatically if a deal is not reached. "The mediation needs to be proactive. Otherwise, there is a risk of escalation, especially since extremists on all sides have resumed their rhetoric," Miviri told DW. Various African leaders, including Nigeria's former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Angolan President Joao Lourenco, have also attempted to mediate between the two sides. Yet no attempts by African leaders have seen success. "Africa is very weak and does not have the power to exert pressure. This is why it is necessary to go where pressure can be used to make nations abide by the resolutions," said political science expert Nkere Ntanda. Countries with major economic power and influence are most likely to succeed in mediating a peace deal, says Nanda, referencing the US and Qatar. Both have taken on roles in negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in part to pressure Rwanda, a close ally of the US and Qatar. The DRC, the United Nations, and several Western governments have accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, allegations Rwanda has repeatedly denied. Instead, Rwanda accuses the Congolese government of using Kigali as a scapegoat to cover up for the DRC's governance and security challenges. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The conflict has killed thousands and forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, according to the UN. While peace negotiations are ongoing between the Kinshasa government and the M23, other smaller rebel groups have continued attacks in eastern DR Congo. The M23 is merely one of around 100 or so armed groups fighting in the mineral-rich eastern Congo region. Islamic State-backed ADF rebels killed at least 52 civilians in the Beni and Lubero areas of eastern DRC in recent days, UN and local officials reported.
DW
20-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Experts skeptical about DR Congo peace deal – DW – 07/20/2025
The Democratic Republic of Congo and have signed a declaration of principles, aiming to lay the groundwork for peace in the country's east. But analysts say the agreement is too vague. In the declaration of principles signed under Qatari mediation in Doha on Saturday, the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 rebellion affirmed their commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict through negotiation, in line with the principles of the DRC Constitution, the African Union and United Nations charters. The document commits both sides to a permanent ceasefire, a ban on aerial, ground, maritime, and lake-based attacks, as well as acts of sabotage, hate propaganda, and any attempt to gain new positions by force. They also agreed to refrain from any actions that could undermine the process. "What makes this text a significant step forward is its link to a clear timeline," said Yvon Muya, professor at the School of Conflict Studies at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. "Implementation is expected by July 29, and negotiations for a comprehensive peace agreement are set to begin on August 8," Muya told DW, pointing out that "this creates political pressure, even if everything remains fragile." The declaration took effect immediately on its signing, and provides for the start of direct negotiations for a comprehensive peace agreement in the first week of August. These talks are to align with the Washington agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, which is to take effect next week. The goal is to reach and sign this comprehensive peace agreement within a month. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Another key point acknowledged by both sides is the restoration of state authority throughout the national territory. This implies the return of state institutions — the army, police, judiciary, and civil administration — to areas currently under AFC/M23 rebel control. "One of the most important clauses in the declaration of intent is the emphasis on extending the control and authority of the state over its entire territory," noted US Special Envoy for Africa Massad Boulos, who attended the signing ceremony. The upcoming agreement will need to define the modalities and timeline for restoring state authority across the country. But despite this optimism, divergences surfaced just hours after the signing. Kinshasa claimed it had secured a commitment for the rebels to withdraw from occupied zones. "This declaration takes into account the red lines we have always defended, particularly the non-negotiable withdrawal of AFC/M23 from occupied areas," wrote government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya on X. The rebellion quickly responded, accusing the Kinshasa government of bad faith. "AFC/M23 will not retreat, not even by one meter. We will stay where we are," said Benjamin Mbonimpa, head of the rebel delegation in Doha. According to Congolese political analyst Christian Moleka, the main challenge — both with the Washington agreement between the DRC and Rwanda and the Doha deal — remains implementation. "Will this be different from previous agreements in terms of sustained implementation? The question is: Is there political will to see this through to the end?" Moleka expressed doubt about whether all sides genuinely wanted lasting peace, and whether the monitoring mechanisms will work better this time than in the past. Signatories pledged to adopt confidence-building measures to reassure the Congolese population and foster a favorable climate for dialogue. The declaration highlights the urgent need to implement these measures, including the creation — with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross — of a framework that, in compliance with Congolese law, would allow for the release of prisoners or detainees identified by both sides. It also provides for the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of refugees and displaced persons. However, not everything has been settled. The document includes no penalties for breaches of the agreement. Most notably, it makes no mention of justice mechanisms — a major point still far from resolution. Even the Washington agreement, which was to take effect on June 27, has yet to show tangible progress. A monitoring and verification mechanism is yet to be established to define the terms of the ceasefire and ensure implementation of the declaration. "On paper, the timeline is clear, and the parties state their intentions, but the feasibility of this calendar depends on multiple factors," said Muya, outlining some of those factors as the sincerity of commitments, pressure from regional actors, and, most importantly, the ability to turn principles into action on the ground. The US, particularly under the Trump administration, has exerted pressure for a durable peace agreement in the DRC and the Great Lakes region. According to Qatar, "the responsibility for implementing this agreement rests primarily with both parties, namely the government in Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 rebel coalition."
