The ICRC on Monday received a signed copy of the mechanism for the release of detainees during a handover ceremony in Doha, attended by officials from the State of Qatar in its role as mediator, alongside representatives of both the Congolese government and the AFC/M23.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions in eastern Congo, where years of conflict have displaced thousands and strained regional stability.
As part of the process, the AFC/M23 has demanded the release of more than 700 prisoners currently held by the Congolese authorities in connection with the ongoing conflict. The request is expected to form a key part of the verification and exchange operations supervised by the Red Cross.
Qatar's mediation role was highlighted during the talks, which built on the Doha Principles Agreement signed last July. The detainee exchange is seen as a concrete step toward restoring trust between the parties and advancing prospects for a lasting peace settlement.
'This is a pivotal step toward de-escalating hostilities and fostering peace in eastern DRC,' Massad Boulos said in a statement issued on September 12. 'We deeply appreciate Qatar's critical work with the ICRC on this process and encourage parties to use this momentum to make additional progress on reaching a final peace agreement.'
The ICRC has previously facilitated similar operations in the region. Between April 30 and May 15 last year, the humanitarian body assisted in transferring more than 1,300 disarmed personnel from the Congolese government forces, along with their family members, from the city of Goma to Kinshasa.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
