The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia signed a new peace framework on Saturday in Qatar aimed at ending the conflict devastating eastern DRC. Qatar, alongside the United States and the African Union, has mediated between the two sides for months, seeking a resolution in the mineral-rich region where M23 has seized key cities. The Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement follows a July ceasefire deal and framework, both of which were violated by the parties. Hundreds of thousands have died in eastern DRC since the mid-1990s. Benjamin Mbonimpa of the M23 delegation noted the agreement contains “no binding clauses” and will not immediately alter the situation, while the text’s eight chapters on the conflict’s root causes will be negotiated before a full peace accord.
