AU hails Qatar’s mediation role in DR Congo, M23 peace deal

Doha, Qatar: The African Union (AU) has described the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of the Democratic Republ...

Doha, Qatar: The African Union (AU) has described the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) as a “major milestone” in ongoing regional peace efforts.

The agreement was concluded in Doha yesterday, marking a significant step toward ending years of conflict in eastern DRC.

Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the ceremony, Chief of Staff of the African Union Commission, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, said the event represented a new chapter in the quest for stability in the Great Lakes region. He expressed profound gratitude to Qatar, the United States, and other international partners for supporting the peace process and helping bring the two parties to the table.

“Today is a big achievement, a big milestone,” Ambassador Souef said, noting that the AU’s presence underscored its commitment to African-led solutions. “We are here to witness this signature because these are key players in this issue. A few months ago, there was an agreement between Rwanda and Congo, and that laid the foundation for what we achieved today.”

He revealed that several additional MoUs—nearly six in total—are expected to follow, focusing on mechanisms for implementing the commitments agreed upon in Doha. Implementation, he stressed, remains the most critical phase of any peace agreement.