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15h ago

DRC and M23 Rebels Chart Path to Peace Accord with Doha Ceasefire

Contestation over M23’s withdrawal from seized territories threatens to stall the Doha ceasefire pact’s implementation

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FILE - M23 rebels stand with their weapons in Kibumba, in the eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, File)
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Overview

  • On July 19 in Doha, Kinshasa and the Rwanda-backed M23 signed a Declaration of Principles committing to a permanent ceasefire and renunciation of hate propaganda and new offensives
  • The pact sets a timetable for direct negotiations by August 8 and mandates a comprehensive peace agreement by August 18
  • It includes measures for prisoner exchanges, restoration of state authority in rebel-held areas and alignment with the US-brokered Washington Agreement
  • The DRC government demands the non-negotiable withdrawal of M23 from cities like Goma, while M23 leaders insist their fighters will remain with local populations
  • Qatar and US mediation, endorsed by the African Union, aims to stabilize eastern Congo and unlock Western investment in its mineral-rich provinces