Chief of Staff of the African Union Commission, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef
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.
Reflecting on the AU’s long-standing involvement in conflict resolution across the continent, Ambassador Souef recalled the organization’s pioneering peace missions in Sudan and Mali. He highlighted initiatives such as the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), which paved the way for the UN–AU hybrid operation (UNAMID), and similar efforts in Mali that were later expanded by the United Nations.
He emphasized that the AU Peace and Security Council, regional economic communities such as SADC and the East African Community, and leaders across the region all play vital roles in sustaining peace. “With one hand you cannot clap,” he said, pointing out that cooperation from countries neighboring the DRC remains essential.
Asked about Qatar’s growing influence in global diplomacy, Ambassador Souef praised Doha’s constructive engagement. “Qatar is very far from Congo, they have no interests there, but they are playing an important role,” he said, noting Qatar’s involvement in peace efforts from Afghanistan to Palestine.
“They are helping make this world a peaceful world.”
The signing in Doha, he concluded, reflects a united international resolve to bring lasting peace to the DRC—one that Africa, with steadfast partners like Qatar, is determined to see through.
Meanwhile, the Advisor to the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23), Jean-Paul Shaka, has described the signing of the framework agreement between the group and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as an important step forward in efforts to secure lasting peace in the conflict-affected eastern region of the country.
Shaka said the new agreement follows several earlier documents signed by the parties, forming a foundation for more detailed negotiations ahead.
“Today was a signing ceremony of a framework agreement between AFC/M23 and the Government of the DRC. This is another step in the process to bring peace to the DRC,” he told The Peninsula.
He emphasised that the framework outlines key areas requiring further protocols, which both sides have committed to address.
Shaka commended Qatar for its central role in facilitating the peace process. He highlighted Doha’s efforts, from the initial meeting with H H the Amir in June to the consistent diplomatic support leading up to the latest agreement.
“Qatar has played a prominent role in the way we are now. We thank Qatar for hosting the negotiations and for its instrumental support,” he said.
Looking ahead, Shaka noted that the next phase involves negotiating the specific protocols referenced in the framework, a task he believes will push the parties into “substantive negotiations on different root causes of the conflict.”
He also clarified that the agreement signed a month earlier in the United States — under the mediation of former President Donald Trump — was between the DRC and Rwanda, while the Doha agreement focuses on the dialogue between AFC/M23 and the Congolese government. Both, he said, form a reinforcing momentum toward peace.
“This is a good momentum for the parties,” Shaka noted, expressing cautious optimism that the process could eventually pave the way for lasting stability in the DRC.
