The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed armed group M23 signed a ceasefire deal Saturday to end fighting that has devastated the country's mineral-rich but conflict-torn east.
The two sides signed a declaration of principles whose terms include a "permanent ceasefire", after three months of talks in Qatar.
It follows a separate peace deal between the Congolese and Rwandan governments signed in Washington last month.
Rich in natural resources, especially lucrative minerals, eastern DRC has been wracked by conflict for more than three decades, creating a humanitarian crisis and forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
Thousands were killed in a lightning offensive by the M23 in January and February, in which the group seized vast swathes of territory, including the key provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu.
In the agreement signed in Doha, the warring parties agreed to "uphold their commitment to a permanent ceasefire", including refraining from "hate propaganda" and "any attempt to seize by force new positions".
The deal includes a roadmap for restoring state authority in eastern DRC, and an agreement for the two sides to open direct negotiations toward a comprehensive peace agreement.
Congolese presidential envoy Sumbu Sita Mambu and M23 permanent secretary Benjamin Mbonimpa shook hands after signing the deal at a ceremony in the Qatari capital.
The M23 had insisted on seeking its own ceasefire deal with Kinshasa, saying the DRC-Rwanda deal signed in Washington in June left out various "problems" that still needed to be addressed.
The two sides said the new deal aligned with the Washington agreement, which US President Donald Trump at the time called the start of "a new chapter of hope and opportunity" for the region.
Rwanda Saturday thanked Qatar and the United States for mediating the accord, and said that it "remains committed to contributing to sustainable peace as well as economic development in the Great Lakes region".
The African Union hailed the new agreement as a "significant development", saying: "This... marks a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability in eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region."
The European Union and the United Nation's regional peace-keeping mission MONUSCO also welcomed the accord.
Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said the deal took account of the DRC's "red lines", including "the non-negotiable withdrawal of the M23 from occupied areas followed by the deployment of our institutions", including the armed forces.
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