Belgium welcomes ceasefire agreement between DR Congo and M23 rebels

Belgium "welcomes" the ceasefire agreement in the conflict between the army of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in North Kivu, the country's outgoing Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said on X. 

"This step is essential to ease the suffering of the population and lead to a resolution of the conflict in Eastern DRC," she said in a statement.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by Angola in the conflict between the Congolese army and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in North Kivu, the Angolan government announced on Wednesday. 

The Congolese army and M23 have been fighting in North Kivu, in northeastern Congo bordering Uganda and Rwanda, since late 2021. Much of the region is in rebel hands.

The Angolan government said the ceasefire would take effect from midnight on 4 August. "We thank Angola for its crucial role, and encourage the parties to honour their commitments," Lahbib said.

^{Mai-Mai militiamen and soldiers from the Armed Forces of the DRC near the town of Kibirizi in North Kivu, controlled by the M23 rebellion, in May 2024 © PHOTO ALEXIS HUGUET / AFP}