By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
M23 rebels, agreed to work towards a truce with the Democratic Republic of Congo government during recent talks brokered by Qatar in Doha, according to a joint statement.
The truce, declared late on Wednesday after a round of negotiations in Qatar, has raised hopes that the latest wave of violence, spurred by M23’s bloody January assualt and capture of the DRC’s two largest cities, may begin to subside.
“Both parties reaffirm their commitment to an immediate cessation of hostilities, a categorical rejection of any hate speech, intimidation, and call on local communities to uphold these commitments,” said the joint statement.
The “cessation of hostilities” would apply “throughout the duration of the talks and until their conclusion”, it added.
The peace push mediated by Qatar comes after the Gulf state successfully brokered a surprise meeting last month between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
The session apparently paved the way for direct talks between DRC and M23, which Kinshasa had previously refused to meet with.
The decades-long conflict has roots in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, with M23 made up primarily of ethnic Tutsi fighters.
Many were former rebels integrated into the DRC army who later defected, citing discrimination and broken peace deals.
Since 2021, the two sides have agreed to at least six truces that later collapsed. The latest bout of violence since January has killed thousands and raised fears of a wider regional war.
The DRC, United Nations and Western governments have acused Rwanda of supporting M23 with troops and arms, but Kigali has long denied sending military help.
The recent escalation has forced Congolese civilians to cross the border into neighboring countries seeking safety, with nearly 120,000 people have so far arrived in Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda, according to the UN.