Congo, M23 rebel group sign declaration of principles to end fighting

The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group signed on Saturday a declaration of principles to end fighting in eastern Congo.

The signing by representatives from both sides took place at a ceremony in Qatar that followed months of Qatari mediation after talks began in April.

The United States has exerted pressure to finalise a durable peace deal in the volatile Central African country. U.S. President Donald Trump has made clear he hopes that would attract Western investment to a region rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals.

The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year, while escalating the risk of a full-scale regional war.