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Representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23-AFC coalition are scheduled to return to Doha, Qatar, within eight days to advance efforts toward signing a long-awaited peace agreement, Vice Prime Minister Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo announced on Monday.
Speaking at a press briefing, Shabani, who also serves as Minister of the Interior, Decentralization, and Customary Affairs, said, “If all goes well, a peace agreement could be signed in the coming months.
” This development marks a critical step in addressing the protracted conflict in eastern DRC, which has plagued the region for over three decades.
“We are on the verge of a peace agreement between the DRC and the M23-AFC coalition,” Shabani confirmed.
He noted that previous regional and continental negotiations had failed to bring about a lasting ceasefire. “The thirty-year security crisis in the DRC is now better understood, with clearer identification of the involved actors.
The Washington peace accord also laid some groundwork,” he added.
The Doha talks build on a series of diplomatic efforts earlier this year. In March, a significant meeting took place between President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Doha.
This was followed in April by the signing of a ceasefire communiqué between the DRC government and M23-AFC representatives.
While implementing the ceasefire has proved complex, a mediation mechanism for information sharing and fact verification has been established since then.
Shabani explained that the recent declaration of principles reaffirms the parties’ commitment to peace. “Initially, immediate confidence-building measures were planned after signing the declaration, but practical challenges made this difficult.
The mediation preferred to frame this as a general principle to guide the forthcoming peace agreement,” he said.
Additionally, an important tripartite meeting involving the UNHCR, the DRC, and Rwanda will address the sensitive issue of refugee management along their shared border.
Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya urged Congolese citizens to approach the agreements with a comprehensive understanding and encouraged the media to fulfill its role responsibly.
“We call on the press to avoid spreading enemy propaganda without verification,” he stressed.
As the peace process enters a decisive phase, hopes rise for a durable resolution to one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts.
