(MENAFN) On Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his approval of the recent signing of a Declaration of Principles between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel faction, also known as the March 23 Movement (AFC/M23).

Guterres shared his positive sentiment in a statement posted on X, highlighting the importance of the agreement.

“I welcome the signature of the Declaration of Principles between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo & the AFC/M23,” he remarked.

The UN Secretary-General further emphasized the United Nations' dedication to fostering peace and ensuring the protection of civilians and stability in the DRC.

He also reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to working closely with both national authorities and regional and international partners in this ongoing mission.

Representatives from both the DRC government and the M23 rebel group officially signed the declaration on Saturday, following several weeks of diplomatic efforts aimed at alleviating the escalating violence in the country's eastern region.

This peace agreement comes shortly after another separate peace deal was struck between Rwanda and Congo on June 27 in Washington, raising hopes for a potential cessation of hostilities.

The tensions between Congo and Rwanda have been mounting, with accusations from Congo and Western nations that Rwanda has been providing support to the M23 rebels since their resurgence in 2021.

Rwanda, however, has consistently denied these allegations.

The M23 group, which has been at the heart of the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, controls significant areas of land, including the major provincial cities of Goma and Bukavu, both of which they captured earlier this year.

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