(MENAFN) The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and the rebel March 23 Movement (M23) signed a peace framework in Doha on Saturday, facilitated by mediation from Qatar and the United States.

Qatari Minister of State at the Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al-Khulaifi said the agreement, called the Doha Framework for Comprehensive Peace, “lays the foundation for peace and stability” between Kinshasa and M23.

According to reports, Khulaifi noted that efforts are now focused on translating the framework into tangible progress on the ground. “Work is continuing to achieve peace through appropriate mechanisms for implementing the agreement in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said.

He emphasized that the breakthrough was achieved through “the good offices of our partners, led by the United States, the African Union and Togo,” and described the signing as “a historic opportunity” that imposes a responsibility on both parties to honor the deal.

Khulaifi explained that Qatar’s role is not to resolve every dispute immediately but to create a structured framework containing core protocols for negotiation. These protocols “include restoring state authority, governance reforms, inclusive national power-sharing arrangements, issues of identity and citizenship, the return and resettlement of internally displaced people and refugees, and economic recovery with improved social services,” he said.

The comprehensive peace agreement will comprise the framework document and eight protocols, with two already signed and six more scheduled to be negotiated within two weeks of the framework’s signing, according to the state minister.

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