Congo and the M23 rebel group have agreed on a declaration of principles after months of Qatar-mediated talks, aiming to end fighting in the country’s east.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels have reached a declaration of principles to ease violence in eastern Congo, a region plagued by years of conflict. The deal, expected to be signed in Doha, includes an immediate ceasefire and a commitment to begin formal negotiations on a broader peace agreement.
The agreement follows months of mediation led by Qatar and pressure from the United States, which sees the peace effort as key to unlocking investment in Congo’s mineral-rich eastern provinces.
Fighting between M23 and Congolese forces, supported by regional actors, has intensified since January, with the rebels capturing major territory across North and South Kivu provinces. Thousands have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
Qatar previously brokered a surprise meeting in March between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, calling for an unconditional ceasefire. Direct talks between Congo and M23 followed, despite Kinshasa initially branding the group a terrorist organization.
Negotiators say the declaration outlines steps for a lasting ceasefire and the eventual restoration of state authority in rebel-held areas. However, there are still unresolved issues, including M23’s withdrawal, the reopening of banks, and the release of detained fighters.
The UN and Western governments have accused Rwanda of backing M23 with troops and weapons — allegations Kigali denies, saying its forces are defending against Hutu militias linked to the 1994 genocide.
Netflix has used generative artificial intelligence to produce a visual effects scene in an original series for the first time, marking a new step for...
The U.S. ambassador to Türkiye says Israel and Syria have reached a ceasefire deal supported by Türkiye, Jordan, and regional actors after cross-bor...
The Trump administration has completed a controversial prisoner swap with Venezuela, returning around 250 deported Venezuelans in exchange for 10 Amer...
U.S. President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law on Friday, creating the first U.S. regulatory framework for dollar-backed stablecoins and m...
Rwandan President Paul Kagame welcomed the U.S.-mediated peace agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo, but warned its success depends on both sides showing genuine commitment.
The US will host the official signing of a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, the State Department announced Friday.
42 thousands of secondary school students sat for state exams in rebel-held eastern Congo this week, a complicated logistical feat requiring rare cooperation between the government and M23 rebels.
Officials in Congo are hopeful that ongoing negotiations with the United States will yield a landmark investment agreement in critical minerals, alongside a peace deal with Rwanda to end a deadly rebellion in eastern Congo, by the end of June.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
Germany's export slump since 2021 is largely driven by deep-rooted competitiveness issues, the Bundesbank warned in its latest report, calling for urgent structural reforms.
Israeli researchers have unveiled an artificial intelligence tool that can determine a person’s true biological age from tiny DNA samples with remarkable precision.
Two Harry Potter actresses, Emma Watson and Zoe Wanamaker, have each received a six-month driving ban after separate speeding offences, both sentenced on the same day at a Buckinghamshire court.
North Korea has stopped foreign tourists from visiting its new Wonsan-Kalma resort just weeks after it welcomed the first Russian visitors.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in the U.S., though the company has not confirmed the claim.
The U.S. ambassador to Türkiye says Israel and Syria have reached a ceasefire deal supported by Türkiye, Jordan, and regional actors after cross-border strikes this week heightened tensions.
The Trump administration has completed a controversial prisoner swap with Venezuela, returning around 250 deported Venezuelans in exchange for 10 American detainees.
German authorities have arrested a Libyan man accused of overseeing torture and sexual abuse at a notorious prison in Tripoli, the International Criminal Court said on Friday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment