By Edrisa Ssentongo
The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 group have agreed to an immediate cessation of hostilities following peace talks mediated by the State of Qatar.
In twin declarations issued from Kinshasa and Goma on April 23, both parties pledged to uphold a ceasefire throughout the duration of the negotiations and committed to addressing the root causes of the decades-long conflict in eastern DR Congo.
The statements were signed by Papy Mboki Kangudia, head of the Congolese government delegation, and Lawrence Kanyuka, political spokesperson for the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23.
"Representatives of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the AFC/M23 agreed to work towards concluding a truce that would contribute to the effectiveness of the ceasefire," both parties said.
The declarations also condemned hate speech and intimidation, urging local communities to support peace efforts.
“We reaffirm our commitment to an immediate cessation of hostilities and call on all local communities to uphold these commitments,” the joint statement read.
The conflict, centred in the mineral-rich eastern region, has escalated in recent months, with M23 forces advancing into cities such as Bukavu and Goma.
This development follows a significant diplomatic meeting on March 18, 2025, in Doha, where Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda met under the mediation of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and agreed to continue discussions to establish lasting peace, building upon progress made in the Luanda and Nairobi processes.
Both the DR Congo government and the M23 acknowledged Qatar’s role in facilitating the peace talks.
“We express our sincere appreciation to the State of Qatar for its continued efforts and unwavering commitment,” the statements noted.
With eastern DR Congo gripped by instability for over 30 years, the current ceasefire is being watched closely by regional observers and international partners as a possible pathway to sustainable peace.