Congo and M23: Peace agreement brings hope for millions!

Congo and M23: Peace agreement brings hope for millions!

The current situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is turbulent, but there is light at the end of the tunnel: On July 19, 2025, the government of the DR Congo and the rebel group M23 signed a declaration of principles in Doha. This declaration paves the way for a peace agreement to end the conflict that has been raging in the east of the country for years. The M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have captured crucial areas in recent years, including the city of Goma, and now control significant resources in the region. The valuable metals mined include tantalum, gold, nickel, cobalt and copper - raw materials that are not only important for industry but are also needed for the production of laptops and electric vehicle batteries.

The declaration of principles provides for a permanent end to all acts of violence and attacks in Congo and represents the beginning of a new partnership between the actors involved. “We are optimistic that we are now on the right track,” said Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, as well as the Congolese government, which had originally ruled out direct negotiations. Rwanda continues to deny its role in the conflict, despite extensive evidence of support for the rebels.

Peace agreement as a turning point

But the Declaration of Principles is only one step towards complete peace. A peace agreement was signed between the DR Congo and Rwanda on June 28, 2025, which came about in Washington with the mediation of the USA and Qatar. US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were praised for their mediation roles. The agreement is intended to end the decades-long conflict and contains important provisions on territorial integrity and the repatriation of refugees.

A key point of the agreement is the disarmament and disarmament of non-state military groups, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres called it an "important step" towards de-escalation. More than 500,000 people have fled violence since the beginning of the year and the humanitarian situation remains critical: an estimated 8 million people are suffering from food insecurity in the affected eastern provinces.

The path to stability

In this context, the M23 has established a “kind of state within a state”, which considerably complicates finding a solution. The current negotiations in Qatar are promising, but the situation remains tense. The population hopes that international efforts, pushed by important players such as the USA, will lead to the return of peace.

Overall, it is clear that the DR Congo could be on the verge of a decisive turning point. The question is whether the parties can really pull together this time to stop the destructive work of the M23 and its supporters. A new spring could perhaps be on the horizon - if you make the right decisions.

For more details on this situation, take a look at the following articles: Lip wave, daily news, and Deutschlandfunk.