Esther Imonmion
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group on Tuesday, October 14, agreed to establish an international body to oversee a ceasefire that has yet to take effect.
The agreement, signed in Doha following mediation by Qatar, seeks to end ongoing hostilities in eastern DRC, where M23—reportedly backed by Rwanda—controls large parts of North and South Kivu, regions rich in minerals.
According to Kinshasa, the government remains committed to halting the fighting, protecting civilians, and creating conditions for lasting peace. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the deal as a “pivotal step” toward stability, noting that the new mechanism will investigate and verify ceasefire violations to help prevent renewed clashes.
The oversight body will comprise equal representation from the Congolese government and M23, alongside the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). Qatar, the United States, and the African Union will participate as observers.
M23 has welcomed the agreement as a “significant advancement,” though fighting continues across several fronts. More than seven million people have been displaced by the conflict, and earlier this year, the rebels seized the key cities of Goma and Bukavu.
Both parties have previously missed implementation deadlines and continue to trade accusations of breaching the truce terms.