The Congo and the M23 rebel group have pledged to sign a peace agreement by August 18, even if there is no outstanding details required to be negotiated, which is a sign of progress.
Representatives of both sides were held at a ceremony in Doha on Saturday. They signed a statement of principles for developing a new timetable, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.
The ceremony was a Katari mediation months after the talks began in April.
The United States has held separate talks between the Congo and Rwanda governments and has put pressure on a lasting peace agreement in Congo. President Donald Trump made it clear that he hoped to inspire Western investment in a country rich in Tatalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals.
Last month, Rwanda and Congolese foreign ministers signed a peace agreement and met with Trump at the White House.
At the time, Trump invited Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda President Paul Kagame to Washington to sign a package that could include an economic agreement.
In a series of latest uprisings, M23 has been controlling Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo since late January, and has also made profits in the provinces of North and South Kivo.
Rwanda has long denied allegations that it helped M23, which occupied more territory in Congo than before. The battle killed thousands and was displaced this year hundreds of thousands, while escalating the risk of full-scale regional war. As progress began, several neighboring forces in Congo were deployed in eastern Congo.
“A new stage of partnership”
Qatar Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Hulafi said in a press conference: “For Saturday’s declaration, the basis for establishing a new partnership between various social components of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – including armed movements that chose a greater national interest. ”
This was caused by a surprise meeting held by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan villain T Paul Kagame, held in March by Taul Kagame, during which they called for a “direct and unconditional” ceasefire.
The Congo’s previous idea of refusing to hold talks with M23 was posted on a terrorist organization.
While denied its support for M23, Rwanda said its forces had already defended the Congolese army and the Congolese army and the hutu militia linked to the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
Points of contention
Sources of the two delegations have made insufficient progress in the speed of negotiations in Doha and the confidence-building measures, including the reopening of M23 members in the Congo and the reopening of banks in rebel-controlled territory.
The statement of principle does not solve these problems, but promises that the parties “create the necessary conditions” to ultimately do so.
It also did not address the bigger issue regarding the possible evacuation of Rwanda and M23 from eastern Congo. It said Congo and M23 agreed that national authorities should be restored “on all national territories” as part of the final peace agreement, but did not provide details.
Nevertheless, Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said on X on Saturday that the declaration “considered the red lines we have been defending the red lines, including the non-transferable withdrawal of M23”.
According to the declaration, negotiations on the peace agreement will begin no later than August 8, which will allow the parties to complete the transaction within two weeks if the parties adhere to the new August 18 deadline.
“We have confidence, we are full of hope,” Trump’s senior African adviser Massad Boulos told Reuters after a ceremony in Doha on Saturday.
