The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23), a coalition that includes the M23 movement group, has agreed to work toward a truce with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government, according to a joint statement issued Wednesday following negotiations in Doha, Qatar.
The statement described the decision as a result of “frank and constructive discussions” and affirmed a shared commitment to peaceful conflict resolution in eastern Congo. Both parties agreed to pursue an immediate cessation of hostilities to facilitate a long-term ceasefire and meaningful dialogue.
The M23 group, central to the ongoing conflict, has significantly escalated its military activities since December, seizing major cities such as Goma and Bukavu. A previous ceasefire agreement announced in March—brokered by the Emir of Qatar and supported by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame—was quickly undermined by renewed clashes in North Kivu.
The conflict has caused a major humanitarian crisis, with nearly 120,000 Congolese fleeing to Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda, according to UN figures.
