DRC government, M23 rebels commit to protect civilians, aid deliveries | Conflict News

After talks in Switzerland, the 2 sides additionally made progress on a protocol for ceasefire oversight.

The authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and rival M23 rebels have agreed to ease aid deliveries and launch prisoners, as mediators push to resolve a years-long battle that has continued regardless of a number of peace offers.

The two sides introduced the measures in a joint assertion shared by the US Department of State on Saturday, following 5 days of talks in Switzerland.

“The parties agreed to refrain from any action that would undermine the principled delivery of humanitarian assistance within the territories impacted by the conflict,” the assertion mentioned.

Both sides additionally pledged not to goal civilians and to facilitate medical look after the wounded and sick as they famous progress on a protocol for humanitarian entry and judicial protections.

They agreed to launch prisoners inside 10 days as a part of efforts “to continue building confidence.”

In addition, the events signed a memorandum of understanding for a ceasefire monitoring mechanism that can “begin conducting surveillance, monitoring, verification, and reporting on the implementation of the permanent ceasefire between the parties.”

Since 2021, the M23, backed by Rwanda, has seized territory in jap DRC, a area ravaged by greater than 30 years of battle.

While the 2 sides signed a United States-brokered peace agreement in Decembercombating has continued, most lately reaching the highland areas of South Kivu, in accordance to media experiences.

In a press release final week, Human Rights Watch accused the events of blocking aid deliveries and stopping civilians from fleeing the South Kivu highlands.

“Civilians in South Kivu’s highlands are facing a dire humanitarian crisis and live in fear of abuses by all parties,” mentioned Clementine de Montjoye, senior Great Lakes researcher at Human Rights Watch.

The newest spherical of talks, held within the Swiss Riviera city of Montreux, included representatives from Qatar, the US, Switzerland, the African Union (AU) Commission, and Togo serving because the AU mediator.