DR Congo: Amid reports of violence, calls are made to resume the Doha talks
The Congolese government and the AFC/M23 rebels have suspended peace negotiations after accusing one another of breaking a truce that was agreed upon in July when they signed the Declaration of Principles for enduring peace in Doha, Qatar.
The rebels, who have been in possession of the two biggest cities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo for about eight months, charged on August 11 that the government coalition was engaging in “offensive manoeuvres” despite the negotiations mediated by Qatar.
The crucial agreement outlining the conditions for fostering confidence that must be met before the two sides can come to a peace deal was signed on July 19, marking the end of the fifth round of the Doha negotiations.
The rebels proposed on Sunday, August 17, that their negotiators would go back to Doha following the implementation of the principles declaration.
“The AFC/M23 hereby reaffirms its full commitment to the Doha Peace Process and emphasizes that the next round of talks, which should be based on the root causes of the conflict, will only be able to proceed once the Declaration of Principles is fully implemented,” said AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka in a statement on Sunday night.
“Only within this framework will these underlying issues be addressed, opening the door to a thorough and long-lasting peace agreement.”
Massad Boulos, the special assistant to US President Donald Trump who was an observer at the Doha negotiations, warned against a resumption of violence in the wake of recent reports of clashes in North Kivu region.
Boulos posted on X on Friday, saying, “The United States condemns the renewed violence reported today in eastern DRC and calls for all parties to respect the ceasefire.”
For the Peace Agreement to be implemented successfully and robustly, we require collaboration and capable leadership. The advancement of peace and prosperity is hampered by violence.
On August 11, the rebels charged that the government coalition had sent military personnel and equipment to new fronts along the Kalemie-Uvira, Kinshasa-Bujumbura, Kindu-Shabunda, and Kisangani-Walikale axes.
Kanyuka noted earlier this week in a statement that these deployments, which willfully breach the ceasefire once more, show a clear escalation strategy.
