The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group have pledged to pursue peace following discussions held in Qatar, after renewed fighting in January raised concerns of a broader conflict in the region.
Both parties issued identical statements after the talks, which lasted over a week, expressing their intention to cease hostilities and reject hate speech or intimidation. They also called on local communities to honor these commitments. Despite the agreement offering a sliver of hope for de-escalation in a conflict with deep historical roots, delegates expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the negotiations.
The discussions were described as “frank and constructive,” though it remains uncertain whether further talks will be held.
Since January, M23 has made significant territorial gains in eastern Congo, capturing major cities and escalating violence that has claimed thousands of lives. This new push for peace followed a recent meeting between the Congolese and Rwandan presidents, where both called for a ceasefire—an encounter that laid the groundwork for Congo’s direct engagement with M23, despite previously labeling the group as a terrorist organization.
Rwanda has consistently denied supporting M23, claiming its military actions are defensive, targeting both Congolese forces and Hutu militias tied to the 1994 genocide. Congo’s stance, supported by the UN and several Western nations, alleges that Rwanda is aiding the rebels by providing troops and weapons.
While the talks in Qatar showed some progress, they were also marred by disputes over trust-building steps, including the release of prisoners linked to Rwanda and M23. These issues nearly collapsed the discussions.
One Congolese official criticized the rebels’ demands, emphasizing that legal accountability must be upheld. Meanwhile, a representative of the rebel alliance said the impasse over these measures ultimately led to the delegations’ departure from Qatar.
Nevertheless, diplomats indicated that mediation efforts succeeded in getting both parties to issue a joint statement to continue efforts toward a truce.
A senior Belgian official welcomed the development as a key step toward halting the violence. However, fresh clashes were reported in Walikale territory, an area recently vacated by M23 in a symbolic move ahead of the talks.
