Doha: The signing of the Declaration of Principles between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement in Qatar yesterday received Arab and international media attention.
According to Qatar News Agency, media coverage consistently highlighted Qatar's important position as a trusted mediator in resolving complex disputes through peaceful means. A report by Egypt's Nile News TV stated that Qatar's success in brokering a peace agreement between the conflicting parties in the DRC, following three months of talks in Doha, serves as a turning point in the path toward establishing peace in this African country.
Nile News' report noted that earlier this month, the March 23 Movement had called for a new round of negotiations to address unresolved issues not covered in the peace agreement signed by Rwanda and the DRC in Washington last month. The Declaration of Principles includes a commitment to soon launch security negotiations toward a comprehensive peace agreement.
The US-based DRM Radio also reported on the Qatari-mediated signing and referred to the press conference by HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, to discuss the agreement's implications for regional stability.
France's TV5Monde said that the peace process in the DRC has entered an important phase with the signing of the Declaration of Principles in Doha, where Qatar is playing a successful mediating role in ending the conflict between both parties. French journalist Romain Gras mentioned that the agreement carries symbolic weight, emphasizing the improbability of face-to-face meetings between the DRC government and the rebel movement just weeks ago.
Meanwhile, a news report on India's WION TV highlighted that the DRC and the Congo River Alliance/M23 Movement had reached an agreement for an immediate ceasefire following two months of talks in Doha, building on an earlier agreement signed between the DRC and Rwanda in Washington last month. WION also noted that the African Union welcomed the Declaration of Principles as a significant step toward achieving lasting peace and praised Qatar's role in promoting peace.
France 24 reported that after months of negotiations in the Qatari capital, the DRC government and the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement were able to agree on a Declaration of Principles. Turkiye's TRT World highlighted the success of Qatari mediation after months of talks, noting that DRC government and Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement representatives signed a Declaration of Principles to establish peace.