DR Congo, M23 rebels sign deal in Qatar to end fighting in eastern Congo

DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY,

The declaration has been agreed connected by representatives of some sides successful Doha, weeks aft talks successful Washington.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel radical person signed a declaration of principles successful Qatar to extremity warring successful eastbound Congo.

The declaration was signed connected Saturday betwixt representatives of some sides successful Doha.

The DRC and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels person been engaged successful dense fighting, spurred by M23’s bloody January assault and seizure of the DRC’s 2 largest cities.

The decades-long struggle has roots successful the 1994 Rwandan genocide, with M23 made up chiefly of taste Tutsi fighters.

The warring has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands much this year, portion escalating the hazard of a full-blown determination war.

Several of DRC’s neighbours already person troops deployed successful the volatile region.

In March, Qatar brokered a astonishment gathering betwixt DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame, during which they called for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire.

That led to nonstop talks, besides successful Doha, betwixt the DRC and M23.

The DRC had antecedently rejected the thought of holding talks with M23, branding it a “terrorist group”, but successful April, some sides pledged to enactment towards a ceasefire.

Talks successful the US

Washington has besides hosted talks betwixt the DRC and Rwanda successful June.

On June 27, the 2 countries’ overseas ministers signed a bid woody and met with United States President Donald Trump astatine the White House. Trump warned of “very terrible penalties, fiscal and otherwise” if the woody is violated.

Trump besides invited Tshisekedi and Kagame to Washington to motion a bundle of deals that Massad Boulos, Trump’s elder advisor for Africa, dubbed the “Washington Accord”.

Speaking to reporters connected July 2, Boulos said the Trump medication would “love” to clasp that gathering astatine the extremity of July.

But helium besides said US officials anticipation to person a woody successful Doha finalised by then.

The DRC, the United Nations and Western powers accidental Rwanda is supporting M23 by sending troops and arms.

Rwanda has agelong denied helping M23 and says its forces are acting successful self-defence against the DRC’s service and taste Hutu fighters linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies