Sunday July 20, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government has welcomed the ceasefire agreement signed Saturday between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group, describing it as a significant step toward restoring peace in the conflict-ravaged eastern region of the DRC.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Somalia—currently serving as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council—praised the deal and the diplomatic efforts that led to its signing.
The ministry emphasized the importance of sustained dialogue and full implementation of the agreement to achieve lasting peace and stability for the people of the DRC and the wider Great Lakes region.
“The Federal Republic of Somalia reiterates its solidarity with the peoples of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes region in their pursuit of peace, security, and prosperity,” the statement added. “Somalia remains committed to supporting all regional and international efforts to achieve durable stability and development.”
The ceasefire was formalized through a declaration of principles signed in Doha. The DRC and the M23 rebels—widely believed to be backed by Rwanda—have been locked in intense fighting, especially since the group’s violent January assault and capture of two major cities in eastern Congo.
The M23 movement, composed primarily of ethnic Tutsi fighters, traces its origins to longstanding regional tensions that followed the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The group has been involved in multiple uprisings since 2012, contributing to decades of instability in eastern DRC.