DRC accused of undermining peace days after signing deal with M23: Video
The March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government of violating the ceasefire agreement signed in Doha with the Congo River Alliance.
Speaking at a press conference on July 25 in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, M23 representative Benjamin Mbonimpa raised concerns about the implementation of the agreement. He warned that continued breaches by the DRC government could threaten the peace process.
"The AFC/M23 promises to provide you with a daily bulletin of ceasefire violations by the government coalition. Every day they are violating the ceasefire, even just after the signing in Doha, they attacked us," said Mbonimpa, who led the AFC/M23 delegation in the negotiations backed by Qatar.
"Across from us, we have people who violate every agreement. And I'm starting to fear that, given the way government officials are communicating and conveying the message, this declaration of principles is going to be stillborn. I fear because in the media they are already distorting the entire content of the agreement, everything we have agreed upon," he added.
The DRC government and M23 signed a declaration of principles on July 19 in Doha, with mediation from Qatar. The agreement includes a timeline for negotiations aimed at reaching a peace deal by August 18.
The DRC also signed a peace agreement with Rwanda on June 27 in Washington, with support from the United States, to help end the long-standing violence in eastern Congo.
According to the United Nations, more than 27 million people in the DRC face food insecurity, while over 7 million have been forcibly displaced due to the ongoing conflict in the eastern region.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
