(MENAFN) The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and rebel factions, including the M23 (AFC/M23), signed an agreement on Tuesday in Doha aimed at setting up a mechanism to monitor the ceasefire, marking the latest attempt to curb violence in eastern Congo.

The agreement was facilitated by Qatar and witnessed by representatives from the US, the African Union, and the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO).

“DR Congo delegates and River Alliance/M23 signed on Tuesday the ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, under the facilitation of Qatar,” the Congolese Communications Ministry stated in a post on the social media platform X.

The Declaration of Principles ceasefire deal was initially signed in Doha in July. Despite this, clashes between government forces and M23 rebels continue, with both sides accusing the other of violating the truce.

The government described Tuesday’s agreement as a key step toward implementing the July 19 Declaration of Principles.

With the new signing, Congo “reaffirms its willingness to achieve the cessation of hostilities, to guarantee the security of the populations, and to prepare the conditions for a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement, within the framework of the Doha process supported by the international community,” the ministry added.

The M23 group, central to the conflict in eastern Congo, reappeared in 2021 and currently controls large areas, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, captured earlier this year. The UN, the Congolese government, and others accuse neighboring Rwanda of backing the rebels, an allegation that Kigali denies.

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