Africa News reported on Sunday that a draft agreement aimed at ending the fighting between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel movement has been shared with both the government and the rebels, according to a Qatari official.
The official, who is involved in the mediation efforts and was not named by the website, stated: “We recognize the challenges on the ground and hope they can be swiftly overcome through dialogue and sincere commitment.”
These remarks come just before a deadline set for Monday, which was agreed upon last month by Kinshasa and the M23 movement with the aim of reaching a peace agreement.
The official noted that the timeline has not been respected, but “both parties responded positively to the mediator and expressed their willingness to continue the negotiations.”
The roadmap outlined in the “Declaration of Principles” signed on July 19 in Qatar had called for negotiations to begin by August 8, with a final agreement to be reached by Monday.
Since M23 resumed its armed campaign at the end of 2021, it has taken control of large areas in eastern DRC, leading to a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Earlier this year, the conflict escalated further, with the group capturing the major cities of Goma and Bukavu and establishing its own administrations there.
The Qatari official added that Qatar is “currently hosting an important session of negotiations in Doha aimed at following up on the implementation of the declaration and reaching a final agreement.”
Neither Kinshasa nor the M23 movement has issued any comment regarding the latest statements.
On the ground in eastern Congo, violence continues, and has escalated since August 8 around the town of Mulamba, where the front line had remained relatively stable since March.
The Congolese army accused M23 last Tuesday of launching “multiple attacks” on its positions in the east, threatening an already fragile ceasefire.
According to the United Nations, more than two million people have fled the violence since January in the provinces of North and South Kivu, where the M23 movement is active.