DOHA, Qatar (BN24) — Congo’s government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group signed a declaration of principles in Qatar on Saturday aimed at ending years of violent conflict in eastern Congo, pledging to restore government control to rebel-held areas and move toward a final peace agreement.
The declaration, signed in Doha, is the first direct agreement between the two sides since the M23’s dramatic military gains earlier this year in eastern Congo. It calls for building trust through steps such as exchanging prisoners and detainees and reinstating state authority in areas seized by the rebels.
However, the interpretation of the document’s core commitments remains contested. Congolese officials insist it requires a “non-negotiable withdrawal” of M23 from captured cities, while M23 leaders describe the deal as a framework for enabling the government to operate alongside rebel presence.
“This is not a question of withdrawal but of mechanisms for empowering the state, enabling it to assume its prerogatives and obligations,” M23 political leader Bertrand Bisimwa wrote on X, formerly Twitter. The group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, told The Associated Press from Goma: “We are in Goma with the population and we are not going to get out.”
Congo government spokesman Patrick Muyaya, however, stated that the agreement explicitly supports the withdrawal of rebels, to be followed by the redeployment of national forces and civilian governance in the affected regions.
Backed by neighboring Rwanda, M23 is one of more than 100 armed groups fighting for control in eastern Congo, a region rich in minerals but plagued by decades of instability. The group’s resurgence has contributed to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with the United Nations reporting over 7 million people displaced in the country.
Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, said the declaration lays a foundation for a comprehensive peace, with a final deal expected no later than Aug. 18. The agreement aligns with the U.S.-brokered peace framework signed by Rwanda and Congo in Washington in June.
“The Declaration of Principles signed today paves the way for direct negotiations towards a comprehensive peace that addresses the deep-rooted causes of the conflict,” Al-Khulaifi said.
Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed the move as a “significant step forward” in efforts to resolve the conflict, while the U.S. State Department reaffirmed its support for a peace process that restores Congolese state control and ensures inclusive governance.
Among the critical issues addressed in the declaration is the safe return of millions displaced by the conflict and the potential release of M23 fighters detained by Congo’s military. Many of the detained fighters face death sentences.
In Goma, the provincial capital at the heart of the conflict, residents expressed skepticism about the agreement’s prospects. “We cannot build peace without justice and reparation,” said Amani Muisa, a local resident. Others voiced concern that any durable peace must include recognition and support for war victims.
Massad Boulos, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump and participant in the Doha talks, emphasized the agreement’s importance in reaffirming Congolese state control. “It is time to find a final solution,” Boulos said. “The issue requires dialogue, and following up on this dialogue and requires persistence.”
One unresolved issue is Rwanda’s military role in eastern Congo. The United Nations and other observers have documented the presence of Rwandan forces aiding M23 operations. Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said in June that Kigali would lift “defensive measures” only after Congo neutralizes a militia it accuses of harboring perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Analysts say M23’s full withdrawal from eastern cities like Goma and Bukavu may hinge on political concessions from Kinshasa. Without justice and accountability for victims of past atrocities, many warn that any peace may be short-lived.
