The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have agreed to a ceasefire in eastern DR Congo until peace talks mediated by Qatar reach their conclusion.
The truce was announced after over a week of talks, described as “frank and constructive,” between the two parties.
The conflict has intensified since January, with authorities saying 7,000 people have been killed.
DR Congo accuses Rwanda of arming the M23 and sending troops to support the rebels, which Rwanda denies.
Both sides have pledged to give peace talks a chance, rejecting hate speech and intimidation, and calling on local communities to uphold the ceasefire.
The agreement comes after a surprise meeting between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Doha last month.
The ceasefire’s duration and effectiveness remain uncertain, as several previous truces have collapsed.
However, Belgium’s Foreign Affairs Minister hailed the truce as a “crucial step towards ending the violence.” Qatar has been mediating between the two parties after the rebels refused to attend peace talks in Angola last month.
