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Egypt Independent
3 hours 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.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
DR Congo and rebels pledge to sign peace deal
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and the M23 rebel group have pledged to sign a peace agreement by August 18, after months of talks mediated by Qatar to end decades of escalating violence in the Central African nation. Congolese officials and M23 representatives signed a declaration of principles in Doha on Saturday, setting out a new timeline for peace, according to statements from both parties and the Qatari government. According to the text of the document, both sides agreed 'to uphold their commitment to a permanent ceasefire,' which bars attacks by air, land, sea, or lake, as well as sabotage, hate propaganda, and any attempts to seize new ground by force. Kinshasa hailed the signing as progress toward lasting peace in eastern DR Congo and thanked Qatar for its mediation efforts. Regional and international actors have pushed for a ceasefire in DR Congo since M23 rebels intensified their offensive earlier this year in the mineral-rich east. The militants have seized key mining hubs, including Goma and Bukavu, reportedly killing thousands. Congolese officials have long accused Rwanda of backing the armed group. Last month, Kinshasa and Kigali signed a US-brokered deal, which US President Donald Trump has said gives Washington rights to local mineral wealth. Speaking at a media briefing hosted by Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi on Saturday, Trump's senior advisor for African affairs, Massad Boulos, acknowledged the failure of past initiatives and described the Doha agreement as a 'rare and valuable opportunity to achieve peace' in DR Congo. Qatar's foreign minister said the declaration ushers in 'a new phase of cooperation' in the African country, including with armed groups that have opted for peace. While the document states that the Congolese government and M23 agreed to restore state authority 'across all national territory,' government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya claimed it demands the 'non-negotiable withdrawal' of M23. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka rejected the claim as a 'disinformation campaign' that violates the principles of the declaration. 'Nowhere was it requested that the AFC/M23 withdraw from the liberated zones,' he wrote on X.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
DRC, M23 rebels pledge in Qatar to reach peace deal next month
The rebel group M23, in the latest of a series of uprisings, has controlled Goma, eastern DRC's largest city, since late January and has also made gains across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Rwanda has long denied allegations that it has helped M23, which has seized more territory in DRC than it has ever previously held. The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year, while escalating the risk of a full-scale regional war. Several of DRC's neighbours had troops deployed in eastern DRC when the advance began. Qatar's minister of state for foreign affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi said at a news conference Saturday's declaration "lays the groundwork for a new phase of partnership among the various components of society in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — including armed movements that have chosen to prioritise the greater national interest". It was brought about by talks that followed a surprise meeting between Tshisekedi and Kagame, brokered by Qatar in March, during which they called for an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire. DRC had previously rejected the idea of holding talks with M23, branding it a terrorist group. While denying it has supported M23, Rwanda has said its forces have acted in self-defence against DRC's army and ethnic Hutu militiamen linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. POINTS OF CONTENTION Sources in both delegations have expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations in Doha and the lack of progress on confidence-building measures including the release of M23 members held by DRC and the re-opening of banks in rebel-held territory. The declaration of principles does not resolve those issues, instead committing the parties to "creating the necessary conditions" to eventually do so. It also does not address bigger questions concerning the possible Rwandan and M23 withdrawals from eastern DRC. It says DRC and M23 agree state authority should be restored "on all national territories" as part of an eventual peace agreement but does not give details. DRC government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya nevertheless said on X on Saturday that the declaration "takes into account the red lines we have always defended, including the non-negotiable withdrawal" of M23. Negotiations for a peace agreement are to start no later than August 8, according to the declaration, which would give the parties less than two weeks to finalise a deal if they stick to their new August 18 deadline. "We are confident and we are hopeful," Massad Boulos, Trump's senior adviser for Africa, told Reuters after Saturday's ceremony in Doha, adding that Tshiskedi and Kagame "have both committed to resolving this".
Los Angeles Times
2 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
2 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.
