The Congolese government and AFC/M23 rebels have agreed to an immediate cessation of hostilities in eastern DR Congo after their negotiators met in Qatar in the first direct peace talks in more than three years.
The Qatar-mediated negotiations, ongoing since at least April 10, were held “in a spirit of mutual understanding and a shared commitment to resolving the conflict through peaceful means,” according to a joint statement released on Wednesday, April 23.
“After frank and constructive discussions, representatives of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the AFC/M23 agreed to work towards concluding a truce that would contribute to the effectiveness of the ceasefire,” Rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said in the statement, which was also read on state television RTNC on Wednesday.
“By mutual agreement, both parties reaffirm their commitment to an immediate cessation of hostilities, a categorical rejection of any hate speech, intimidation, and call on all local communities to uphold these commitments.”
The statement added that the negotiators agreed “to immediately respect these commitments throughout the period of the talks and until their conclusion.”
Kanyuka said the dialogue will “address the root causes of the ongoing crisis as well as the modalities for ending the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.”
Since January, the rebels have taken control of the cities of Goma and Bukavu.
The negotiations in Qatar came after the first attempt at Angola-mediated direct talks between President Felix Tshisekedi’s government and the rebels, who control two major cities in eastern DR Congo, failed in March.
The announcement comes just over a month after the rebels withdrew from the town of Walikale, about 130km north of Goma, as a good will gesture to allow peace talks.
The Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on March 18 hosted Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame, who supported a ceasefire and regional peace efforts to bring lasting peace to eastern DR Congo.
Rwanda has raised its concerns about DR Congo’s collaboration with the FDLR, a militia founded by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, as well as Tshisekedi’s threats to topple Rwandan leaders over allegations that Rwanda supports the AFC/M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo.
The Rwandan government dismisses the allegations, saying it has put in place defensive measures to prevent the threats from materializing.
The UN-sanctioned FDLR terrorist group, which is part of the Congolese government coalition against the AFC/M23 rebels, has driven persecution of the Congolese Tutsi community. Over the past two decades, the militia has also launched attacks on Rwanda.
