Ceasefire Agreement Reached in Eastern DRC

A new ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set to begin on August 4, 2024, following discussions mediated by Angola. The announcement was made after a ministerial meeting in Luanda, involving the foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda. The ceasefire, which was confirmed by the DRC's foreign ministry, is intended to be of indefinite duration and will be monitored by an existing mechanism. This development comes amid ongoing violence involving over 120 armed groups in the region, which has displaced more than 7.2 million people, according to UN estimates. The DRC government has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, a claim that Rwanda denies. As the ceasefire approaches, there are hopes that it will lead to a more stable peace process in the tumultuous region.