Kinshasa and the M23 armed group, backed by Rwanda, signed a roadmap ahead of a peace agreement in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Saturday 15 November in Qatar.
Qatar, the United States and the African Union have been engaged for several months in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Congo, a region rich in natural resources and where M23 captured the major cities of Goma (in January) and Bukavu (in February).
Kinshasa and M23 signed a declaration of principles in July in Doha supporting a “permanent ceasefire”that did not end the fighting, although the front line had remained relatively stable since March.
On Saturday, the warring parties signed a new agreement, the Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, in a ceremony attended by officials from both sides, as well as American and Qatari mediators.
Eight protocols to negotiate
This agreement does not include “no binding clause” and will not modify “situation on the ground”said Benjamin Mbonimpa, representing the M23 delegation in Doha, in a press release sent to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Saturday.
The text signed on Saturday contains eight “protocol”or chapter, devoted to “root cause of conflict”to be negotiated “before reaching a comprehensive peace agreement”he said in this statement.
Among the eight protocols are the release of prisoners by both sides, monitoring the ceasefire as well as humanitarian access to the eastern region, according to Congolese authorities.
Kinshasa assured Saturday evening in its press release “The process carried out aims to create, as quickly as possible, conditions for real and measurable change for society.” “No status quo is compatible with this goal of peace”add text.
“Starting point”
The US President’s special adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos, told AFP that the agreement had been implemented “the most important aspect” and that’s the reason “many mechanisms have been implemented to address various aspects of its implementation”.
“We discussed eight points of concern and eight topics agreed upon by both parties”explained Mr. Boulos. “They signed today, which is a big step, but we also have to consider this as the starting point of the whole process.”he added.
M23 has never acknowledged its ties to Kigali, and has expressed its desire to overthrow Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi’s regime and remain in territory it controls.
Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in late June in Washington, but both countries in early November recognized the lack of progress and committed to doing so. “to redouble our efforts” to implement the agreement, in a new meeting in the American capital.
Kinshasa demands the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from its territory. Kigali conditioned its removal “defensive action” to the neutralization of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group he considered a group “existential threat”.
Fighting has continued in recent days in eastern Congo between the M23 and the Congolese army, which is backed by local militias, and both sides have almost daily accused each other of violating a ceasefire agreed in July.
