DR Congo, M23 rebels announce ceasefire after peace talks in Qatar
Tough negotiations are expected to resume in Qatar in the coming weeks for a broader peace deal.
The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have agreed to pause fighting as they work towards a broader peace deal, according to their joint statement.
The truce, declared late on Wednesday after a round of negotiations in Qatar’s capital Doha, has raised hopes that the latest wave of violence, spurred by M23’s bloody January assault and capture of the DRC’s two largest cities, may begin to subside.
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“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.
Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani, reporting from the eastern DRC city of Goma, said the two sides’ mutual agreement to pursue peace, after numerous failed negotiation attempts, was an encouraging shift.
However, he added that reports of continued clashes, including in South Kivu province, show how “fragile” any truce agreement is.
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