The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (RDC) and the Rebel M23 group, have signed this Saturday in Doha, capital of Qatar, a joint declaration of principles for a high fire that includes the opening of negotiations to achieve permanent peace. The RDC and, had already reached a cessation agreement of hostilities in Washington last June, but this is the first time that the rebels join a pact that opens the door at the end of a war that intensified last January and that allowed the M23, two strategic cities in the region. On the ground, fighting continues.
The Joint Declaration signed in Doha provides a commitment to reach a high fire that must enter into force before July 29, as well as the opening of negotiations for a permanent peace that has to begin, as late, on August 8 and leads, in the period of 10 days, in a formal agreement. Both parties recognize the key role of mediator played by Qatar, as well as the support of the United States and the African Union in the search for a negotiated exit. The document was signed by Sumbu Sita Mambu, representative of the Congolese government for these negotiations, and Benjamin Mbonimpa, permanent secretary of the Congo/M23 river alliance.
Among the most prominent aspects of this declaration of principles is respect for the territorial integrity of the RDC, the prohibition of all air, terrestrial or maritime attack as the fire is fixed and the creation of a supervision and verification mechanism. Likewise, the release of prisoners is included, the commitment to the return of the refugees to the Congo in safe and dignified conditions and a support of both contestants to cooperate with the United Nations mission in the Congo (Monusco) and the regional institutions to protect the lives of civilians.
Although there are still conversations for that lasting peace, the direct involvement of the M23 in the peace negotiations was the essential requirement to end the Congo conflict. The agreement signed on June 27 in Washington, presented to hype and saucer by the administration of Donald Trump in the presence of its Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, was an important step towards peace, since Rwanda holds the M23, but had the limitation that it did not directly include the rebels. However, conversations in Doha were never interrupted since the opening of the process last March.
Patrick Maraya, spokesman for the Congolese government, and emphasized the recognition of the territorial integrity of the Congo and “the non -negotiable withdrawal of the M23 of the occupied areas” and the “deployment” of the Congolese institutions. However, this is the most thorny issue. Bertrand Bisimwa, one of the leaders of the M23, clarified on the same platform that “it is not a withdrawal but about the creation of state training mechanisms that allow it to assume prerogatives and obligations.” The agreement provides for the return of the Congolese state authority to Rubber, Bukavu and the rest of the territory occupied by the rebels, but ensures that the calendar and modality of said return must be set in later negotiations.
On the ground and while rebels and government representatives argued in Doha, the fighting has continued until this week, which shows the difficulty of the peace process. The Congolese executive accused the M23 of reinforcing his positions in the provinces of Kivu del Norte and Kivu del Sur, especially around the city of Uvira. The clashes between the rebels and local militias that support the government have continued in Rutshuru and Lubero, in the northern region, while in the south hostilities between armed groups have caused the displacement of 37,000 people only in the month of July, said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary General.
