The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has signed a new peace deal with the M23 rebel group, but widespread skepticism remains among experts and residents in the troubled North Kivu province. Despite a hopeful tone from officials, many see this latest ceasefire agreement as just another repeat of failed promises.
The accord, signed in Qatar on Saturday, comes just weeks after the DRC entered a separate peace deal with neighboring Rwanda. Titled a “Statement of Intent,” the agreement commits both sides to protecting civilians and respecting Congo’s sovereignty. However, in Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu currently under the control of Kigali-backed M23 insurgents, reactions have been largely pessimistic.
Pan-African civil rights advocate and Congolese journalist Maude-Salomé Ekila expressed deep concern over the repeated cycles of peace talks and broken agreements. “We keep recycling the same failed strategies,” she said. “There’s a system of international exploitation designed to pillage Congolese resources, and that’s the real issue. Every possible tactic is used to protect this ongoing plunder.”
For Ekila and many other Congolese observers, the peace deal highlights the government’s weakened grip on national security. “Once again, we’re negotiating from a place of weakness,” she said. “Our defense institutions have been compromised. We’re dealing with a highly sophisticated militia that’s effectively backed by the Rwandan army. In reality, the M23 is propped up by Rwanda and the AFC political-military platform.”
She questioned the sincerity of the negotiation process. “What did we really negotiate? Can we meet the deadline in this communiqué? That’s the real question.”
Justice remains a major sticking point for critics. “The cycle repeats itself because there’s no accountability. Justice is always sacrificed for the sake of temporary peace. As long as warlords and foreign powers know they can violate agreements without consequences, they will continue doing so,” Ekila warned. “This cycle of predation will keep going unchecked.”
According to the agreement, the ceasefire becomes effective immediately. The parties must open direct negotiations for a comprehensive peace accord by August 8, following the foundation set by the DRC-Rwanda agreement signed in Washington last month. The final peace deal is expected to be concluded by August 18.
Despite these plans, many analysts are doubtful. The timeline, they argue, is overly ambitious given the history of mistrust and conflict in the region.
