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Türkiye on Sunday praised the signing of a peace framework between the Democratic Republic of Congo government and the M23 rebel movement, calling the agreement an important step toward resolving the long-running conflict in eastern DRC.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement welcoming the deal, which was signed Saturday in the Qatari capital following mediation by Qatar and the United States.
"The agreement marks an important step toward a durable resolution of the conflict in eastern DRC," the ministry said, adding that Ankara "remains committed to supporting efforts to promote peace, security, and stability across Africa."
The ministry commended Qatar's facilitator role in the peace process, as well as other actors contributing to stability in the Great Lakes Region. The Saturday signing represents the latest development in multiple regional and international mediation efforts, most recently led by the US, Qatar, and the African Union.
The Great Lakes Region, which includes DRC and its neighbors, has experienced recurring instability for decades, with armed groups operating in resource-rich eastern DRC despite the presence of international peacekeeping forces.
The March 23 Movement has expanded its control over strategic areas in eastern DRC this year, intensifying a conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Both Kinshasa and the United Nations have accused neighboring Rwanda of providing support to M23, allegations that Kigali has consistently denied.
The rebel group first emerged in 2012, formed by former members of a Tutsi-led insurgency that was integrated into the Congolese army under a previous peace deal.
Saturday's peace framework builds on progress made in October, when Doha hosted the signing of a monitoring and verification mechanism for a ceasefire between the DRC government and M23. The October agreement established procedures for overseeing any potential halt to hostilities, though implementation has faced challenges amid ongoing fighting in North Kivu province.
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