Summary
The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group signed a declaration to end conflict in eastern Congo. The agreement was made in Qatar, aiming to stop ongoing fighting that has displaced and killed many people. This development follows previous meetings and peace deals involving neighboring countries and international parties.
Key Facts
- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebels signed a declaration in Qatar to stop fighting.
- The fighting in eastern Congo has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands this year.
- M23 is mainly composed of ethnic Tutsi fighters and has links to events from the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
- Qatar helped arrange a key meeting in March between Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.
- The DRC had initially refused to negotiate with M23, labeling it a “terrorist group,” but later agreed to talks.
- The US hosted talks between the DRC and Rwanda, where an agreement was signed in June with warnings from then-US President Donald Trump.
- Congo, the United Nations, and Western countries claim Rwanda supports M23, but Rwanda denies this, stating its actions are in self-defense.
- Several neighboring countries have troops in the area due to the ongoing conflict.
