The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the M23 movement have signed an agreement to establish a monitoring mechanism for a potential “permanent ceasefire,” marking a step toward ending the fighting in eastern Congo.
The deal was reached within the framework of Qatar-mediated talks following multiple rounds of negotiations.
Under the agreement, a monitoring body will be formed, comprising representatives from the Congolese government, the M23 movement, and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, with observers from the African Union, Qatar, and the United States. The body will investigate ceasefire violations, while the United Nations mission will provide logistical support.
The accord follows a lightning offensive launched earlier this year by M23, during which the group seized control of the two largest cities in eastern Congo, forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee.
