DR Congo, M23 rebels sign deal to enforce ceasefire

KIGALI, Rwanda

The Democratic Republic of Congo and rebel groups that include M23 (AFC/M23), signed an agreement Tuesday in Doha to establish a ceasefire monitoring mechanism, the government announced, in the latest effort to end violence in eastern Congo.

The signing took place under the facilitation of Qatar, the mediator, and was witnessed by observer representatives from the US, the African Union and the UN mission in Congo (MONUSCO).

“DR Congo delegates and River Alliance/M23 signed on Tuesday the ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, under the facilitation of Qatar,” the Congolese Communications Ministry said in a post on the US social media company, X.

The parties signed the Declaration of Principles ceasefire deal in Doha in July.

But fighting continues between government forces and the M23 rebels, with each side accusing the other of violating the ceasefire.

The government said Tuesday’s deal constitutes a major step in the implementation of the Declaration Principles signed July 19.

With the signing, Congo “reaffirms its willingness to achieve the cessation of hostilities, to guarantee the security of the populations, and to prepare the conditions for a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement, within the framework of the Doha process supported by the international community,” the ministry said.

The M23 rebel group, at the center of the conflict in eastern Congo, reemerged in 2021.

The group controls significant territory, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, which it seized earlier this year.

The UN, Kinshasa and others accuse neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23, which Kigali denies.

The M23 rebels described Tuesday’s deal as a significant advancement.

“We hope that this agreement will put an end to the repeated attacks carried out by the coalition forces of the Kinshasa regime against our civilian populations. If Kinshasa fully respects its commitments, this implementation will create the climate of serenity, peace, and security essential to allow us to finally address the fundamental issues of this conflict and ensure the protection of civilians,” said rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka in a statement.

The Congolese military on Tuesday accused the M23 rebels of killing 39 civilians from Oct. 6 - 12 in North Kivu province in eastern Congo.

The victims were “shot in their homes or tied up before being executed” in different localities in Rutshuru territory, Bwito chiefdom, Maj. Dieudonne Kasereka, communications officer of the 34th military region, said in a statement.

“The rebels also set several houses on fire and looted property in the different villages,” it said, adding that all victims were accused by the attackers of belonging to families of the pro-government militia group, Wazalendo.

The military described the alleged abuses as “crimes against humanity” that “will not go unpunished.”

The M23 has denied previous reports of human rights abuses.

But in August, Amnesty International accused warring factions, including the M23 rebels and the Wazalendo militia group, of committing horrific abuses, including gang rapes, summary executions and abductions.