On Saturday representatives from the central African nation and the M23 group signed a declaration of principles facilitated by Qatar.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the M23 group have signed a declaration of principles in Doha, marking a step towards a comprehensive peace agreement after several rounds of Qatar-mediated negotiations.

The signing ceremony, held in the Qatari capital, was facilitated by Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi. Representatives from both the DRC government and M23 were present, signalling a rare moment of alignment between the two sides after years of conflict in eastern Congo.

“This signing is the result of continuous effort by Qatar to achieve peace in all parts of the world,” Al-Khulaifi said during the ceremony. “Today, we celebrate the signing of this declaration of principles between the DRC government representatives and the M23 group representatives.”

Al-Khulaifi added that the declaration was signed in the hope of laying the groundwork for a full and lasting agreement between the parties.

Speaking at a press briefing alongside Massad Boulos, senior advisor to former U.S. President Donald Trump on African affairs, Al-Khulaifi described the March 2025 meeting between Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the leaders of the DRC and Rwanda as a pivotal moment in advancing dialogue between the two countries.

The meeting marked the first face-to-face encounter between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame since the M23 rebel group launched its offensive in eastern DRC, seizing the key cities of Goma and Bukavu.

Al-Khulaifi also praised a landmark peace agreement signed in Washington, D.C. between DRC and Rwanda in June.

“Qatar greatly values the spirit of responsibility displayed by both sides to reach this announcement, and expresses its appreciation for the trust that both sides has instilled in Qatar to facilitate this process,” Al-Khulaifi noted.

“This declaration not only represents a commitment to stop the violence, but it is also a pivotal step and a practical roadmap towards national reconciliation,” Al-Khulaifi said.

“It establishes a new phase of partnership between the various components of society in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including the armed movements that have been working to undermine the higher interests,” he added.

He said the agreement also paves the way for greater involvement from the international community in supporting peace-building efforts and advancing sustainable development in conflict-affected regions.

The African Union (AU) welcomed the agreement, describing it as a “significant development” and a major step toward regional stability. “This marks a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability in eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region,” the AU said in a statement.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, extended special thanks to Sheikh Tamim for continued commitment and constructive engagement in promoting peace and stability across the African continent.

Qatar has been working alongside the U.S. to mediate between the DRC and Rwanda after tensions between both sides escalated in 2022 when M23 launched an offensive in the eastern province of DRC.

The DRC and M23 agreed to a ceasefire in the east of the country following Qatar’s mediation in April, which followed a new round of talks in the Gulf state in May. 

The deadly conflict has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis in DRC and the internal displacement of at least 7 million people.

DRC says more than 7,000 people have been killed in the territory since the beginning of the year.