Doha witnesses the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 movement.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Follow-ups

Doha, the Qatari capital, witnessed today, Saturday, the signing of the "Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement" between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the M23 movement, in a move described as a historic opportunity to end the long conflict in the country. The signing took place in the presence of Qatari officials and representatives of both sides, after extended rounds of dialogue hosted by Doha during the past months. The Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, said that the two sides had given Qatar great confidence to play the role of mediator, noting that the agreement establishes a new phase of peace and stability, and stipulates the establishment of an independent joint committee between the government and the movement to promote reconciliation. He affirmed Doha's continued support for efforts to achieve stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The agreement comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis, as the fighting has displaced more than 6 million people in the east of the country, and left at least 350,000 homeless following the advance of the M23 movement in the city of Goma. For his part, the US President's Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Mosaad Boulos, described the signing of the agreement as an "important start" towards ending the conflict, expecting fruitful results on the ground. He pointed out that this success came as a result of the partnership between Qatar and the United States, stressing the importance of the African Union's role in ensuring the implementation of the agreement and the sustainability of peace.