The DRC and the M23 militia have signed another peace framework in Doha in a renewed attempt to halt fighting in the country’s troubled eastern provinces. Qatar, working alongside the US and the African Union, mediated the effort after months of shuttle diplomacy. The agreement follows previous ceasefire deals struck earlier this year, though each side has accused the other of violations. Violence in eastern DRC has persisted for decades, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The newly signed Doha Framework includes eight thematic chapters focused on the conflict’s underlying drivers, which will be negotiated before any comprehensive peace deal is finalized. M23’s representative cautioned that the document contains no binding obligations and will not immediately alter conditions on the battlefield.
