Hope for peace as Dr. Congo and M23 rebels sign peace agreements in Qatar

Decades escalated decades of the conflict at the beginning of this year when M23 rebels control over large parts of the mineral eastern Dr. Congo, including the regional capital, Goma, the city of Bukavu and two airports, confiscated.

The UN says that thousands of people have been killed since then and since then hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced from their houses. The M23 denies the numbers and says that fewer than 1,000 people have died.

The spokesman for Dr. Congo, Patrick Muyaya, said the deal took into account the government's “red line” – including the “non -negotiable withdrawal” of the M23 from occupied areas.

In a video published on X, however, the M23 negotiator Benjamin Mbonimpa said that the deal did not mention such a failure.

It is the first direct agreement between the two sides since the rebels started their offensive around the turn of the year.

Qatar said that negotiations should be continued.

The Commission of the African Union described the declaration as a “milestone” in permanent peace efforts and security in the region.

The declaration also describes an obligation to reinstate state authority in Eastern Dr. Congo.

This is the latest in a long series of failed peace shops in the region.

One of the main actors in today's conflict – the M23 rebels – came from a failed peace agreement 16 years ago, which was never delivered on demobilization.

In March, President Félix Tshisekedi from Dr. Congo and his Rwandian counterpart Paul Kagame in Qatar and both demanded an immediate ceasefire.

The following month, Dr. Congo and the M23 Group attracted a ceasefire that was made easier by Qatar, but the fights continued on site.

The Washington deal created in June was given as an important incentive for the intervention of the United States with widespread criticism, is access to the huge mineral assets of the DR Congo. President Trump boasted this achievement.

It was spoken by Tshisekedi and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame to meet Trump together, although no date was set.

Additional reporting from Emery Makumeno