Congo rebels blame the government for delays in establishing peace

The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) volatile eastern region is once again on the verge of escalating violence, as the Congo River Alliance, a coalition of insurgent groups, including the renowned M23 rebels, has accused the Congolese government of breaking previous peace agreements.

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces escalating tensions due to alleged ceasefire violations by insurgent groups and the government.
• Attempts at peace negotiations, mediated by Qatar, have seen limited progress as agreed deadlines passed without significant advancements.
• M23 rebels and government forces exchange accusations of breaching previous agreements, leading to localized outbreaks of violence.
• A Joint Oversight Committee was established under U.S. mediation to address allegations regarding Rwanda's involvement and monitor compliance.

Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), during a press conference stated, "We are obliged to inform the Congolese people and the international community of the successive violations of the ceasefire, which are hindering the principal agreement."

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Missed deadlines in Doha Mediation

Under Qatari mediation, all parties signed a declaration of principles on July 19, promising to begin official discussions by August 8 and reach an agreement by August 18.

However, those deadlines passed with little progress, as seen on Reuters.

Neither delegation showed up in Doha, and M23 commander Bertrand Bisimwa said the organization had never received a formal invitation to join.

Despite these setbacks, a Qatari official relayed that mediators had sent a draft peace pact to both parties, indicating that negotiation is still alive.

"Both parties have responded positively to the facilitator and expressed a willingness to continue negotiations," the official said, but no new deadline has been set.

Even as discussions stall, violence on the ground has been up and down.

Midway through August, Congo's army accused the M23 of launching fresh attacks in breach of existing peace agreements, stressing that it had the right to respond to any further provocations.

On the flip side, rebels claimed that government soldiers and supported militias have undertaken operations in South Kivu, undermining the mediation process.

Peace efforts between the M23 rebels and Congo

A Joint Oversight Committee was established on July 31 as a result of an agreement to promote peace between Rwanda and the DRC that Washington mediated in April.

The committee was established to monitor adherence to the agreement mediated by the United States, specifically on allegations that Rwanda supports the M23, a claim Kigali has repeatedly refuted.

Félix Tshisekedi, the president of the Congo, has sought to put an end to the fighting in the region.

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He attended a gathering of leaders from Eastern and Southern Africa in Tanzania in February to create a coordinated response to the violence.

This momentum continued throughout March, when Qatar held more negotiations, solidifying its position as the crisis's primary mediator.

The current stalemate demonstrates the challenge of transforming diplomatic accords into genuine peace in one of Africa's most turbulent regions.

The mineral richness of eastern Congo, including cobalt, coltan, and gold, makes it both a strategic value and a source of conflicts.

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