After more than two years of conflict, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have reached a temporary halt in the fighting between the Congolese army and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebellion in North Kivu province.
The M23 rebels launched an offensive to gain control of the mineral-rich region in late 2021, seeking a share of the valuable resources like copper, gold, and diamonds.
Following mediation by Angola, a peace deal was announced, set to take effect from midnight on Sunday. Previous truces have been short-lived, raising doubts about the effectiveness of this new agreement.
The UN estimates that the conflict in North Kivu has displaced over 1.7 million people, adding to the record 7.2 million displaced in Congo by various conflicts.
Angola’s President Joao Lourenco is heralded as a ‘Champion of Peace’ for his mediation efforts, aiming to prevent instability from spilling over into Angola.
Despite some skepticism, Western nations have welcomed the ceasefire as a step towards easing the suffering of the population and resolving the conflict in Eastern DRC.
Overall, the region remains fragile, and the success of this ceasefire hinges on the parties respecting their commitments and working towards lasting peace.
