The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and rival M23 rebels have agreed to ease humanitarian aid deliveries and release prisoners following five days of talks in Switzerland. The two sides announced the measures in a joint statement shared by the US Department of State on Saturday, as mediators push to resolve a years-long conflict that has persisted despite multiple peace deals, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the region.
The statement said, “The parties agreed to refrain from any action that would undermine the principled delivery of humanitarian assistance within the territories impacted by the conflict.” Both sides also pledged not to target civilians and to facilitate medical care for the wounded and sick, noting progress on a protocol for humanitarian access and judicial protections, though previous agreements have failed to halt violence.
They agreed to release prisoners within 10 days as part of efforts “to continue building confidence,” a move seen as tentative amid deep-seated distrust. In addition, the parties signed a memorandum of understanding for a ceasefire monitoring mechanism that will “begin conducting surveillance, monitoring, verification, and reporting on the implementation of the permanent ceasefire between the parties,” yet similar mechanisms have struggled in the past.
Since 2021, the M23, backed by Rwanda, has seized territory in eastern DRC, a region ravaged by more than 30 years of conflict, exacerbating humanitarian crises and displacement. While the two sides signed a United States-brokered peace agreement in December, fighting has continued, most recently reaching the highland areas of South Kivu, according to media reports, casting doubt on the efficacy of external mediation.
In a statement last week, Human Rights Watch accused the parties of blocking aid deliveries and stopping civilians from fleeing the South Kivu highlands, underscoring the dire situation on the ground. Clementine de Montjoye, senior Great Lakes researcher at Human Rights Watch, said, “Civilians in South Kivu’s highlands are facing a dire humanitarian crisis and live in fear of abuses by all parties,” pointing to persistent failures in protection.
The latest round of talks, held in the Swiss Riviera town of Montreux, included representatives from Qatar, the US, Switzerland, the African Union (AU) Commission, and Togo serving as the AU mediator, reflecting international involvement that has yet to yield sustainable peace, with critics noting the high costs and limited results of such diplomatic efforts.
Source: www.aljazeera.com