DR Congo government, M23 rebels agree to protect civilians, ease aid access

DR Congo government, M23 rebels agree to protect civilians, ease aid access
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The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the March 23 Movement have agreed to measures aimed at protecting civilians and facilitating humanitarian aid, following five days of talks in Switzerland, mediators said.

In a joint statement shared by the United States Department of State, both sides pledged not to target civilians and to avoid actions that could obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance in conflict-affected areas. They also committed to enabling medical care for the wounded and sick.

As part of confidence-building efforts, the parties agreed to release prisoners within 10 days and reported progress toward establishing protocols for humanitarian access and legal protections.

The two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding to create a ceasefire monitoring mechanism tasked with verifying and reporting on compliance with a permanent truce.

The M23 group, which has been active in eastern Congo since 2021 and is widely reported to have backing from Rwanda, has seized territory in the mineral-rich region after decades of instability. Despite a US-brokered peace deal in December, fighting has continued, particularly in South Kivu.

The latest agreement comes amid warnings from rights groups that civilians in conflict zones face severe humanitarian conditions, with restricted aid access and ongoing security risks.