Both sides have agreed to uphold their commitment to a permanent ceasefire during Qatar-hosted talks

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and the M23 rebel group have pledged to sign a peace agreement by August 18, after months of talks mediated by Qatar to end decades of escalating violence in the Central African nation.

Congolese officials and M23 representatives signed a declaration of principles in Doha on Saturday, setting out a new timeline for peace, according to statements from both parties and the Qatari government.

According to the text of the document, both sides agreed "to uphold their commitment to a permanent ceasefire," which bars attacks by air, land, sea, or lake, as well as sabotage, hate propaganda, and any attempts to seize new ground by force.

Kinshasa hailed the signing as progress toward lasting peace in eastern DR Congo and thanked Qatar for its mediation efforts.

Regional and international actors have pushed for a ceasefire in DR Congo since M23 rebels intensified their offensive earlier this year in the mineral-rich east. The militants have seized key mining hubs, including Goma and Bukavu, reportedly killing thousands. Congolese officials have long accused Rwanda of backing the armed group.

Last month, Kinshasa and Kigali signed a US-brokered deal, which US President Donald Trump has said gives Washington rights to local mineral wealth.

Speaking at a mediabriefinghosted by Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi on Saturday, Trump's senior advisor for African affairs, Massad Boulos, acknowledged the failure of past initiatives and described the Doha agreement as a "rare and valuable opportunity to achieve peace" in DR Congo.

Qatar's foreign minister said the declaration ushers in "a new phase of cooperation" in the African country, including with armed groups that have opted for peace.

While the document states that the Congolese government and M23 agreed to restore state authority "across all national territory," government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya claimed it demands the "non-negotiable withdrawal" of M23.

M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka rejected the claim as a "disinformation campaign" that violates the principles of the declaration.

"Nowhere was it requested that the AFC/M23 withdraw from the liberated zones," he wrote on X.

(RT.com)