The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group signed a framework agreement on Saturday (15 November) for a peace deal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands this year.
The agreement was signed by representatives from both sides at a ceremony in Doha, Qatar. It marks the latest in a series of documents signed in recent months, with the backing of the United States and Qatar, to resolve the decades-long conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has often threatened to escalate into a regional war.
While U.S. and Qatari officials described the framework as a significant step towards peace, they acknowledged that much work remains to be done.
Massad Boulos, the top U.S. envoy to the region, stated that the framework includes eight protocols, six of which still require agreement on implementation. He also noted that the implementation of the first two protocols, regarding the exchange of prisoners and monitoring a ceasefire had been slow.
The M23 rebel group, which has received support from neighbouring Rwanda, captured Goma, eastern DRC's largest city, in January and made further territorial gains across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
However, Rwanda has denied any involvement with M23, despite the group's increased territorial control.
Violence in DRC continues even as diplomatic efforts progress. On Friday, local officials reported that up to 28 people were killed by Islamic State-allied militants in North Kivu. Qatar has hosted several rounds of direct talks since April, focusing primarily on preconditions and building trust between the two sides.
The two parties reached an agreement in July on a declaration of principles, though key issues at the heart of the conflict remain unresolved. In October, they agreed to monitor a future ceasefire. Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, stated that Saturday's agreement set the stage for peace, emphasising that peace is built through confidence, mutual respect, and sincere commitment, rather than by force.
A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader warned the U.S. port blockade would fail, saying Tehran has ways to bypass it and could turn to con...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top storie...
The United Nations has said that at least 21 people have been executed in Iran and more than 4,000 arrested since the outbreak of war involving the...
President Donald Trump discussed how to mitigate the impact of a possible months-long U.S. blockade of Iran's por...
An initial inquiry into last year’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach has called for a series of counter-terrorism reforms, alongside increased se...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 30th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The United Nations has said that at least 21 people have been executed in Iran and more than 4,000 arrested since the outbreak of war involving the United States and Israel on 28 February.
President Donald Trump discussed how to mitigate the impact of a possible months-long U.S. blockade of Iran's ports with oil companies, a White House official said on Wednesday, as the U.S. renewed its calls for other nations to help open the Strait of Hormuz.
An initial inquiry into last year’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach has called for a series of counter-terrorism reforms, alongside increased security at Jewish public events and further gun control measures.
A Pentagon official provided the first official estimate of the cost of the U.S. war in Iran on Wednesday (29 April), telling lawmakers that $25 billion had so far been spent on the conflict, most of it on munitions. Earlier, Donald Trump said that the U.S. had "militarily defeated" Tehran.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme. Washington is insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
The decision by the United Arab Emirates to leave OPEC+ on 1 May has put renewed focus on one of the most influential groups in global energy - and how its decisions can shape oil prices worldwide.
Mexican special forces arrested Audias Flores, known as “El Jardinero”, a senior commander of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during an operation in the western state of Nayarit, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said on Monday (27 April).
The United Arab Emirates has said it's quitting OPEC from 1 May, dealing a major blow to the oil producers’ group and its de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, amid disruption caused by the Iran war.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 30th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
An initial inquiry into last year’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach has called for a series of counter-terrorism reforms, alongside increased security at Jewish public events and further gun control measures.
Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla commemorated victims of the 11 September, 2001, an al Qaeda attack on New York City on Wednesday, laying a floral bouquet at the memorial where the World Trade Centre's twin towers once stood.
Two Jewish men have been stabbed in London in an incident that British police are treating as a terrorist attack.
Reversing a decade of restrictions, New South Wales has opened new areas for gas exploration in its remote west. The move reflects growing concern over future energy supply across Australia’s east coast.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment