Kinshasa, Aug 27 (EFE).- The Congolese Presidency confirmed to EFE on Wednesday that peace talks between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the rebel group March 23 Movement (M23), which is backed by neighboring Rwanda, have resumed in Doha, Qatar.
”Work has resumed in Doha between the two parties, and our delegation has been there since last week,” said Presidency spokeswoman Tina Salama, speaking with EFE by telephone.
During these meetings, the DRC and the M23 will discuss ceasefire monitoring mechanisms and a prisoners and detainees exchange.
In July, the Congolese government and the rebel group signed a declaration of principles in Doha aimed at ending the fighting in the eastern DRC.
The commitments included respect for a permanent ceasefire, a ban on taking positions by force, and development of a roadmap for reestablishing state authority in eastern DRC, which will be detailed in the future peace agreement.
The creation of a ceasefire verification mechanism involving the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (Monusco) is also planned, as well as a commitment for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons in coordination with host countries and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Both parties agreed to implement the provisions of the declaration by July 29 and start negotiations on the final agreement by Aug. 8, with a scheduled signing on August 18. However, these deadlines were not met
In recent months, the Doha talks have been taking place in parallel to a U.S.-sponsored dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda, which led to the signing of a ministerial-level peace agreement between the two African countries in Washington on June 27.
The document includes provisions such as respect for the territorial integrity of each country, peaceful resolution of disputes, prohibition of hostile acts, and support for armed groups.
It also granted the US access to critical minerals in the region.
The conflict in eastern DRC intensified in late January when the Rwandan-backed M23 — according to the UN and several Western countries — took control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, and later Bukavu, the capital of neighboring South Kivu.
Since 1998, eastern DRC has suffered from a conflict fueled by rebel groups and the army, despite the deployment of Monusco. EFE
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