Latest news with #DeclarationofPrinciples
Qatar Tribune
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Security Council welcomes Qatar's efforts in reaching Declaration of Principles between DRC and M23 Movement
Members of the Security Council welcomed the efforts of the State of Qatar in facilitating the signing of the Declaration of Principles between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Congo River Alliance/M23 Movement. They added that the Doha talks, facilitated by the State of Qatar, contributed to significant progress on this issue. The SC members also renewed their deep appreciation to the State of Qatar for its mediation efforts.
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Qatar Brokered DRC Peace Deal a Bittersweet Moment for Africa
Qatar's chief negotiator Mohammed al-Khulaifi (centre) observes peace mediator Sumbu Sita Mambu, a high representative of the head of state in the Democratic Republic of Congo (left) and Rwanda-backed armed group M23 executive secretary Benjamin Mbonimp (right as they sign a ceasefire deal in Doha on July 19, 2025. Image: AFP Dr. Sizo Nkala The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the rebel group, M23, signed a Declaration of Principles in Support of a Pathway to a Comprehensive Peace Agreement on the 19th of July under the mediation of Qatar. The DRC government forces and the M23 have been locked in an armed conflict in eastern DRC since 2021. The conflict intensified at the beginning of 2025, which saw the M23 rebels, allegedly supported by Rwanda, go on the offensive and seize huge swathes of territory, including the major cities of Goma and Bukavu, the capitals of North and South Kivu provinces, respectively, including two major airports. About 7000 people have reportedly lost their lives, and over a million more have suffered displacement as a result of the escalation. The latest agreement is a major step towards the resolution of a conflict that has defied continental and regional diplomatic and military intervention. The DRC President, Felix Tshisekedi, had vowed never to meet with the M23 leaders. Both the Luanda and Nairobi processes failed to bring the two parties under one roof for negotiations. According to the agreement, the two parties agreed to commit to a permanent ceasefire that will see the cessation of attacks, curbing of hate propaganda, and a freeze on seizing new territories. A verification mechanism will be set up to help with the implementation of the ceasefire. The parties further agreed to an exchange of prisoners and detainees, restoration of state authority over the entire DRC territory, the safe return of displaced people, and protecting the civilian population in cooperation with the United Nations mission. Most importantly, the warring parties undertook to participate in direct negotiations for a peace agreement on the 8th of August with a view to reaching and signing a comprehensive agreement by the 18th of August. Such an agreement would be in line with the terms of the peace deal signed at the end of June between the DRC and Rwanda in Washington. The latest agreement was necessary for the Washington deal to work. Some of the terms of the document signed in Washington included a cessation of hostilities; demobilisation, disarmament, and reintegration of members of rebel groups in the DRC security forces, and the setting up of a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism within 30 days. The purpose of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism is to monitor and verify the disarmament and demobilisation of the rebel groups. The 30-day deadline for its set-up is almost up. While the negotiations between the DRC government and the M23 may, in their own way, take the peace process forward, the necessity of an agreement between them coming after the deal between the governments of the DRC and Rwanda is debatable. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ It is one of the worst-kept secrets that the Rwandan government, led by President Paul Kagame, is the principal of the M23. Reports by the United Nations have confirmed that the Rwandan government is not only funding but also sending its forces to fight alongside the M23 in eastern DRC. As such, Rwanda's signing of the Washington peace deal with the DRC government in June left the M23 with no other option but to toe the line of its benefactor. Hence, these negotiations feel like a duplication. These rather damp-squib negotiations may serve the purpose of perpetuating the illusion that the M23 is an independent entity. The M23 itself had mounted a weak protest against the Washington peace deal, saying that they would not observe or respect an agreement they were not party to. Further, this new layer of negotiations does little to lessen the formidable challenges of implementing a peace deal in the DRC. There is still no credible enforcement mechanism for a ceasefire or disarmament and demobilisation process. The absence of a transparent and effective enforcement mechanism will put the warring parties in a prisoners' dilemma scenario where the most rational action would be non-cooperation. The lack of trust and the mutual hatred between the leaders of the two camps will be an issue that will undermine compliance with the terms of the deal. Previous ceasefire agreements have not been able to stop the two sides from attacking each other. There are no assurances that this one is going to be an exception. Importantly, the latest developments beg the question as to why Qatar, a small state in the Middle East, was able to accomplish what the African Union-sanctioned Luanda process and the East African Community-sanctioned Nairobi process found frustratingly elusive. Why is it that the DRC government and the M23 were willing to sit around the negotiating table in Doha and not in Luanda or Nairobi? How was a continental body with 54 member states representing 1.5 billion people upstaged and outshone by a country of less than 3 million people? These questions make this development a bittersweet moment. While the prospects of real peace in eastern DRC are certainly a cause for celebration, it is troubling that the AU seemingly has less gravitas than Qatar. * Dr. Sizo Nkala is a Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg's Centre for Africa-China Studies. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
UNSC welcomes Qatar's efforts in DRC-M23 Movement peace pact
QNA New York Members of the United Nations Security Council welcomed the efforts of the State of Qatar in facilitating the signing of the Declaration of Principles between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Congo River Alliance/M23 Movement. They added that the Doha talks, facilitated by the State of Qatar, contributed to significant progress on this issue. The UNSC members also renewed their deep appreciation to the State of Qatar for its mediation efforts.
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar reaffirms commitment to peaceful dispute resolution
The State of Qatar's foreign policy gives the highest priority to the peaceful settlement of disputes, particularly through mediation. This commitment is reflected in a track record of successful mediation efforts that have contributed to enhancing security and stability across various regions of the world, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani stated. Delivering Qatar's statement before the Security Council's high-level open debate on 'Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes' at the UN Headquarters in New York, Sheikha Alya highlighted the tripartite summit held last March in Doha, during which His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani hosted the President of the Republic of Rwanda and the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The summit contributed to creating favorable conditions for de-escalation, which led to the signing of the Declaration of Principles between representatives of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and representatives of the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement, last Saturday in Doha. This declaration complements the peace agreement signed last month in Washington, DC, between the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda under the auspices of HE President of the United States of America Donald Trump, and supports the path toward a comprehensive peace agreement facilitated by the State of Qatar. On the situation in Afghanistan, she reaffirmed that the State of Qatar will continue its mediation efforts to support the country in facing major challenges to achieving peace and stability. This includes hosting the UN-led Doha Process on Afghanistan, which aims to fully reintegrate Afghanistan into the international community. Addressing the situation in the Gaza Strip, she stated that the outbreak of war in Gaza in 2023 posed a serious challenge to the international community. In line with its unwavering commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes, the State of Qatar initiated intensive mediation efforts in cooperation with the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America. Despite the complexities, these efforts led to tangible outcomes, including a ceasefire agreement that improved humanitarian conditions and increased access to aid for civilians in the Gaza Strip, as well as the exchange of hundreds of prisoners and detainees. Mediation efforts are still ongoing to achieve a final ceasefire agreement that would bring an end to the war and its resulting humanitarian catastrophe. She emphasized that Qatar has spared no effort in working with regional and international partners to prevent the further escalation and regional spread of the conflict, while consistently warning of the grave consequences of regional destabilization. Nevertheless, despite repeated international warnings, the Israeli military escalation has persisted, not only in Gaza but also targeting Lebanese, Syrian, and other territories in the region, leading to heightened tensions and threatening the stability of the entire region, culminating in a peak last June. She noted that the escalation on June 23 resulted in a direct missile attack on Qatari territory. However, Qatari air defenses successfully intercepted the missile, preserving the country's territorial integrity. Sheikha Alya further stated that Qatar was among the first countries to warn of the dangers of regional conflict escalation and the consequences of continued Israeli military actions. She reiterated Qatar's call for prioritizing diplomatic solutions, upholding the principles of good neighborliness, and exercising restraint over escalation. She also welcomed the ceasefire reached between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel, expressing hope that both parties would adhere to it and that it would serve as a foundation for meaningful dialogue and diplomacy, paving the way toward sustainable peace and stability. In conclusion, Sheikha Alya reiterated Qatar's emphasis on the need for the Security Council to maintain its commitment to advancing peaceful processes and political solutions to avoid further human suffering and promote global stability. She called on the Council to assume its responsibilities in preventing conflicts and addressing violations of international law by enforcing its resolutions, ensuring respect for international norms, and ending impunity.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
US Welcomes Signing Of Declaration Between Democratic Republic Of The Congo And Representatives Of Congo River Alliance
The United States welcomes the signing of a Declaration of Principles between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and representatives of Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement, facilitated by the State of Qatar, and observed by the United States. We commend the Parties for taking this meaningful step toward advancing lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes region. We express our sincere gratitude to the State of Qatar for its critical role in facilitating this process. Qatar's leadership and dedication to fostering dialogue between the DRC and M23 have been instrumental in supporting a peaceful resolution to the conflict. This achievement builds upon the Peace Agreement signed between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda on June 27, 2025, in Washington, D.C., and complements the broader efforts to advance durable peace and prosperity in the region. The United States encourages the parties to uphold their commitments under the Declaration of Principles and continue discussions required to reach a full peace agreement. The United States remains committed to driving progress toward a peace in eastern DRC that results in the restoration of DRC authority and inclusive governance that allows for the people of the region to return home and realise a more prosperous future.
