"When Qatar helped secure a peace deal to end ongoing conflict between the M23 rebel group and Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) government last month, there was hope among many Congolese that a permanent ceasefire would soon emerge to end the fighting that has uprooted close to a million people in the country's troubled east, and give war-racked communities some respite as the new year rolls in."
"Since late 2021, the group, which the United States and the United Nations say is backed by Rwanda, has clashed with the Congolese army in heavy offensives that have killed at least 7,000 people this year alone. Several regional attempts at resolution have failed. Still, when M23 representatives and Congolese government officials met for negotiations in Doha and proceeded to sign a peace deal in November, exhausted Congolese dared to hope."
Qatar helped broker a peace deal between the M23 rebel group and the Democratic Republic of the Congo government, raising expectations of a lasting ceasefire. The M23, accused by the United States and the United Nations of receiving backing from Rwanda, has engaged in heavy offensives since late 2021 that killed at least 7,000 people this year and uprooted nearly a million people. The rebels launched a new offensive this month and temporarily seized the strategic city of Uvira before withdrawing. Implementation of agreements and compliance with ceasefire terms remain stalled. Fears of regional escalation and political manipulation have grown.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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