Overview

• The Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 insurgents signed the Qatar Declaration of Principles on July 19, pledging a permanent ceasefire and a ban on hateful propaganda.
• The pact outlines an ambitious roadmap for a comprehensive peace agreement but does not specify exact deadlines.
• It omits details on enforcement measures and provides no schedule for M23 to vacate Goma and other seized territories.
• An M23 spokesperson told the Associated Press the group will remain in Goma with civilians and has no plans to withdraw.
• Analysts say strong US–Qatar coordination is promising but warn that ignoring dozens of other armed factions and relying on a weak central government could undermine the accord’s durability.