To put an end to fighting in eastern Congo, the DRC and the M23 rebel group have signed a declaration of principles in Qatar.
Representatives from both sides in Doha signed the declaration on Saturday.
Heavy fighting has been waged between Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the DRC, which was fueled by M23’s bloody assault and capture of the country’s two largest cities in January.
The 1994 Rwandan genocide, where M23 consisted primarily of ethnic Tutsi fighters, is the root of the decades-long conflict.
This year, the fighting has left hundreds of thousands of people dead and displaced hundreds more, increasing the threat of a regional war.
In the troubled region, troops are already stationed in several of the neighboring DRCs.
A surprise meeting between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame in March was organized by Qatar, where they demanded an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire.
That resulted in direct discussions between the DRC and M23, both of whom were present in Doha.
M23 was previously criticized as a “terrorist group” by the DRC, but both sides pledged to work toward a ceasefire in April.
US conversations
In June, Washington hosted discussions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The two nations’ foreign ministers met at the White House on June 27 to sign a peace agreement and discuss the situation. Trump warned of “very severe penalties, both financial and otherwise,” if the agreement is broken.
Additionally, Trump invited Kagame and Tshisekedi to sign a number of agreements, which Massad Boulos, Trump’s senior adviser for Africa, dubbed the “Washington Accord.”
Boulos stated to reporters on July 2 that the Trump administration would “love” holding that meeting at the end of July.
He added that US officials hope to have the deal in Doha finalized by that time.
Rwanda, according to the DRC, the UN, and Western powers claim that it sends troops and weapons to support M23.
Source: Aljazeera
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