The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and M23 rebels have signed a ceasefire agreement in Qatar aimed at halting ongoing hostilities in the country’s troubled eastern region.
The deal, referred to as the Declaration of Principles, was signed on Saturday and seen by the BBC. It commits both parties to cease attacks, refrain from engaging in hate propaganda, and avoid any attempts to seize new territory by force.
The declaration is intended as a roadmap toward a comprehensive peace agreement, with both sides pledging to begin implementing its terms by July 29. A final peace deal is expected by August 18 and must be in line with a U.S.-brokered accord between DR Congo and Rwanda signed last month. Rwanda has consistently denied accusations that it supports the M23 rebels.
Fighting intensified earlier this year when M23 rebels captured large swathes of territory in mineral-rich eastern DR Congo, including the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu, as well as two airports. The conflict, which stems from decades of regional instability, has led to thousands of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands, according to the United Nations. M23 disputes those numbers, claiming fewer than 1,000 casualties.
Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said the ceasefire respects DR Congo’s “red line,” emphasizing the “non-negotiable withdrawal” of M23 forces from occupied areas. However, M23 negotiator Benjamin Mbonimpa, in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), pointed out that the agreement does not explicitly mention a rebel withdrawal.
This marks the first direct agreement between the DR Congo government and M23 since the rebels launched their offensive at the start of the year. Talks are expected to continue under Qatari mediation.
The African Union Commission hailed the declaration as a “milestone” for peace and security in the Great Lakes region. The agreement also calls for the restoration of state authority in eastern DR Congo.
However, the region has a history of failed peace efforts. M23 itself emerged from a peace accord signed 16 years ago that failed to implement promised demobilization.
In March, President Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo and Rwandan President Paul Kagame met in Qatar and jointly called for a ceasefire. Although a temporary ceasefire was agreed upon the following month, also with Qatar’s involvement, fighting persisted on the ground.
The Washington agreement, reached in June, has been met with skepticism, with critics pointing to the U.S.’s strategic interest in DR Congo’s vast mineral resources. Former President Donald Trump, under whose administration the deal was struck, touted the agreement as a diplomatic achievement.
There have also been reports of a potential summit in Washington involving Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame meeting with Trump, though no date has been confirmed.
