The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed a peace framework agreement with the anti-government armed forces

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar announced that the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the anti-government armed group "M23 Movement" have signed a framework agreement, laying the foundation for a future peace agreement between the two sides.

Xinhua News Agency reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar announced on Saturday (November 15) that the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the anti-government armed group "M23 Movement" signed a framework agreement in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on the same day. Both sides committed in the framework agreement to building mutual trust through dialogue, advancing the stability process in phases, and addressing the root causes of conflicts.

The agreement emphasizes the need to protect civilians, respect human rights, and ensure the safe and dignified return of displaced persons to their homes.

Benjamin Mbonimpa, the representative of the "M23 Movement" dialogue, said on social media that the framework agreement, which includes the root causes of the conflict, future negotiation topics, implementation schedules and relevant responsible parties, will serve as the basis for future comprehensive peace agreement negotiations.

He also pointed out that the framework agreement does not contain any binding provisions, and the situation on the front line will not change until negotiations on the relevant contents are conducted one by one and consensus is reached.

Since January this year, tensions in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have escalated sharply. The "M23 Movement" has continuously launched offensives in North Kivu Province, South Kivu Province and other places, and the conflict has caused a large number of civilian casualties and dislocations.

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the "M23 Movement" signed a declaration of principles in Doha in July. According to the Declaration of Principles, both sides should take steps such as permanently ceasing hostilities, releasing detainees, restoring the governance rights of state institutions in conflict areas, and initiating negotiations on peace agreements.

However, due to the lack of progress in relevant steps, the situation in eastern Congo (DRC) has become tense again recently. The government and the "M23 Movement" resumed dialogue in Doha earlier this month.