The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group committed to an immediate cessation of hostilities following talks in Qatar, Reuters reported.
Both sides issued identical statements on Wednesday, vowing to reject hate speech and urging local communities to uphold the truce. However, sources close to the negotiations warned of lingering frustrations over stalled progress and unresolved disputes.
The agreement, mediated by Qatar, comes after M23’s unprecedented offensive since January, which saw the capture of key cities and displaced thousands. The Gulf state had earlier brokered a rare meeting between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan leader Paul Kagame, who both called for a ceasefire.
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, the negotiations nearly collapsed over contentious demands. Congolese officials resisted calls to release prisoners allegedly linked to Rwanda and M23. Rebel delegates, meanwhile, accused Kinshasa of intransigence, claiming technical disputes over confidence-building measures derailed substantive discussions.
However, fighting resumed this week in Walikale—a strategic mining region—hours after the ceasefire pledge, underscoring the fragility of the deal.
Qatar’s mediation has temporarily averted a wider regional conflict, but diplomats caution that trust remains threadbare. With M23 controlling swathes of resource-rich territory and Kinshasa facing pressure to address grievances, the Doha accord risks becoming another fleeting ceasefire in a conflict stretching back decades.
