African Union says DR Congo-Rwanda deal ‘milestone’ toward peace
The African Union hails the peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda as a significant step towards achieving stability in the region.
NAIROBI: The African Union (AU) has commended the recent peace accord signed between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, describing it as a 'significant milestone' towards achieving peace in the troubled eastern DRC.
This agreement comes at a time when the region has been plagued by conflict for over three decades.
The AU's Commissioner, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who witnessed the signing ceremony held in Washington on Friday, expressed his appreciation for the constructive role played by the United States and Qatar in facilitating dialogue between the two nations.
The peace deal stems from a recent escalation involving the M23 rebel group, an ethnic Tutsi armed force supported by Rwanda, which has been making strides across the DRC's mineral-rich eastern territories, culminating in the seizure of key cities such as Goma.
While the agreement does not directly address the territorial gains made by the M23, it calls for Rwanda to cease its 'defensive measures.' Rwandan authorities have consistently denied providing military support to the M23 and instead demanded an end to operations by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group comprised of ethnic Hutus implicated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The agreement emphasizes the neutralization of the FDLR, aiming to disarm and dismantle this armed group, as part of broader efforts towards peace and reconciliation in the region.
This agreement comes at a time when the region has been plagued by conflict for over three decades.
The AU's Commissioner, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who witnessed the signing ceremony held in Washington on Friday, expressed his appreciation for the constructive role played by the United States and Qatar in facilitating dialogue between the two nations.
The peace deal stems from a recent escalation involving the M23 rebel group, an ethnic Tutsi armed force supported by Rwanda, which has been making strides across the DRC's mineral-rich eastern territories, culminating in the seizure of key cities such as Goma.
While the agreement does not directly address the territorial gains made by the M23, it calls for Rwanda to cease its 'defensive measures.' Rwandan authorities have consistently denied providing military support to the M23 and instead demanded an end to operations by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group comprised of ethnic Hutus implicated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The agreement emphasizes the neutralization of the FDLR, aiming to disarm and dismantle this armed group, as part of broader efforts towards peace and reconciliation in the region.
