by Temitope Oladeji
24/4/2025
In a significant diplomatic development, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and the M23 rebel group issued a joint statement on Wednesday pledging to an “immediate” cessation of hostilities as peace negotiations continue.
The announcement follows months of intensified fighting that saw M23 forces capture several cities in eastern province of DR Congo.
The monumental statement, made public through DR Congo’s national television and echoed by an M23 spokesperson, marks the most serious attempt in recent years to bring an end to the long term conflict in the country’s troubled eastern region.
The ceasefire agreement was brokered with the help of Qatari mediation and aims to remain in effect for the duration of ongoing peace talks.
“Both parties reaffirm their commitment to an immediate cessation of hostilities,” the joint statement declared, emphasizing that the ceasefire would hold until the negotiations reach a conclusion.
This surprise breakthrough comes after repeated failed attempts at peace, with more than six ceasefire deals collapsing since the M23 resurgence in 2021.
Despite repeated international efforts, the conflict escalated, displacing thousands and worsening humanitarian conditions in the region.
M23, a rebel movement that reemerged in 2021, is widely believed by United Nations experts and several Western governments to be supported militarily by the Rwandan government.
However, the Rwandan government strongly denies this. Last week, a senior U.S. envoy called on Kigali to withdraw its forces from Congolese territory.
President Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo has long refused to engage in direct dialogue with M23, accusing the group of acting as a proxy for Rwandan interests.
The Qatar-led mediation effort, launched earlier this month, represents a rare diplomatic intervention by the Gulf state.
While Qatar has yet to release a formal statement on the negotiations, its role has been notable given its expanding economic ties with both Rwanda and DR Congo, including a $1 billion investment in an airport project near Kigali.
For three decades, eastern DR Congo has been plagued by persistent violence, with various armed groups vying for control of resource-rich territories.
The recent M23 offensive has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict, particularly with the group advancing on major urban centers such as Goma and Bukavu.
Rwanda continues to deny the presence of its troops on Congolese territory but has repeatedly voiced concern over the presence of Hutu militias in DR Congo. Some of which included elements responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Kigali has demanded their disarmament as a precondition for regional peace.
The latest ceasefire deal now raises cautious hope for a resolution to one of Africa’s most protracted and destabilizing conflicts.