The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the March 23rd armed movement (M23) have taken a step towards peace. The two parties have separately signed a joint declaration, committing to work to restore peace after years of violence in the DRC’s eastern region.
Formed in 2012, the M23 rebellion is composed of several former members of the various rebellions that have followed one another since 1997, including the AFDL, RCD, and CNDP. These rebels are members of several ethnicities, including Tutsis who claim they are defending their minority brothers and fighting for good governance. The Rwanda-backed M23 resurfaced in November 2021 after nearly a decade of dormancy. The group captured Goma, the region’s largest city and capital of North Kivu province, on January 27, 2025. It has since continued to capture more territory. DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa said in February that at least 7,000 people had been killed in fighting since January. Meanwhile, over 7 million people have been displaced due to the conflict, largely living in dire conditions.
The new declaration, made public on April 23, 2025, represents a modest but significant advancement on the difficult path towards lasting stability in the region. Amidst hesitant hope and skepticism, the population of Goma, the current stronghold of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)-M23 movement, oscillates between relief and distrust.
In the city’s streets, many welcome this diplomatic opening. Nizeyimana Jean Claude, a lawyer, expresses his high expectations to Peace News Network (PNN). “We desire lasting peace and not ephemeral solutions. True reconciliation inevitably requires justice,” he said. For Claude, no stability will be possible without reparations for the victims of past atrocities. He also emphasizes the necessity of an inclusive dialogue, which he says is the only way to heal society’s wounds sustainably.
However, the enthusiasm is not unanimous. Nzanzu Daniel, a human rights activist, is much more cautious. In his view, recent history calls for prudence. “We experienced the 2008 agreements, and we know their consequences. The hasty integration of rebels into the army and political institutions was a serious mistake. It is crucial to avoid repeating those same errors,” Daniel warns.
During a briefing on April 24, DRC government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya spoke about the joint statement from the DRC delegation and that of AFC-M23.
“I think we have taken a step that is not the only one because now the question, for example, of concluding the process with Rwanda will no longer arise as we have started the first phase of the ceasefire,” Muyaya said. “We will see how it consolidates, but subsequently, there will be other rounds of discussions that will be agreed upon and scheduled by the mediator.”
On the international front, several states have also welcomed the development, seeing it as an opportunity to break the vicious cycle of conflicts. Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prévôt, expressed support for the initiative on X, saying, “I am pleased with the agreement announced by the DRC and M23/AFC aimed at establishing a truce and a ceasefire, paving the way for essential dialogue to restore lasting peace in Eastern Congo.” The Belgian diplomat also announced his imminent visit to the region, highlighting Brussels’ support for efforts led under the facilitation of Qatar and regional organizations the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) has not remained indifferent to this step forward. The UN mission on X praised “the joint commitment to establish a truce as a basis for an effective ceasefire” and commended “the renewed determination demonstrated by both parties to prioritize dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution.”
A process that remains fragile
The joint declaration, although signed separately by both delegations—Lawrence Kanyuka for M23/AFC and Papy Mbuyi Kanguvu for Kinshasa—commits the protagonists to an immediate end to hostilities and to ban any hate speech or intimidation. Media, religious authorities, and local communities will thus have an important role to play in supporting this emerging de-escalation dynamic.
It remains to be seen whether the planned dialogue will address the issues in Eastern DRC long claimed by M23 and its allies to be root causes of the conflict. Among these demands are security for Congolese Tutsis and an end to discrimination against them, and facilitating the return of Congolese Tutsi refugees who have been living in neighboring countries for nearly three decades.
However, some of the rebel movement’s demands risk offending a segment of public opinion. The request for amnesty for its members prosecuted by the Congolese justice system and their participation in the management of institutions revives painful memories. Many fear a repetition of past mistakes, where the integration of ex-combatants into the army and the administration contributed to the weakening of state structures and the perpetuation of chronic instability in the region.
Political actors such as Deputy Gracien Iracan and human rights activists such as Daniel are already warning against any form of political bargaining that would disregard the necessity of genuine institutional and military reform. Many Congolese people view the fragility of the state as one of the root causes of the successive rebellions that have ravaged the country for more than two decades.
Qatar, a Discreet Architect
In this attempt at normalization, Qatar plays a crucial mediating role. The expressions of gratitude addressed to Doha in the joint declaration are not insignificant. For several months the emirate has been working behind the scenes, to reconcile the opposing positions. Its action, discreet yet resolute, is part of a broader desire to increase its diplomatic influence in Africa.
The success of this mediation could offer Qatar a stronger stature on the international stage, but it will depend above all on the ability of the Congolese parties to make sincere concessions, far from short-term calculations and superficial postures.
Uncertain Futures
Despite the hope created by this announcement, caution remains essential. The DRC remains trapped in a cycle of violence where a culture of impunity thrives, where justice is often silenced, and where the use of force still appears to many as a shortcut to power.
In this context, making dialogue a genuine lever for transformation will require more than signatures on paper. It will take strong actions, commitments kept, and an unwavering political will to break the spiral of chaos.
Keywords: DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, Congolese, M23, rebels, declaration, ceasefire, peace, conflict, conflict resolution, Tutsis
Anicet Kimonyo
Anicet Kimonyo is a Congolese journalist and war reporter based in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the city of Goma in the Province of North Kivu. Since the resurgence of conflicts in the region, he has been involved in media coverage of conflicts in the region and their consequences to the community. His work focuses on issues of democracy, peace and good governance in the region, environmental and climate issues and topics about mining.
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