Congo, M23 sign framework for peace in Qatar, more steps needed

The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group signed a framework agreement on Saturday for a peace deal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in eastern 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 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 Congo's largest city, in January and made further territorial gains across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Rwanda has denied any involvement with M23, despite the group's increased territorial control.

Violence in Congo 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.

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