A Fragile Truce in Doha

In Doha’s mirrored halls, far from the dust and misery of eastern Congo, two men shook hands this weekend. One represented the Democratic Republic of Congo; the other, the M23 rebel group that has seized cities, airports, and thousands of lives. They signed a Declaration of Principles, pledging to halt attacks, refrain from hate propaganda, and stop seizing new territory.

On paper, it is progress. A final peace agreement is promised by August 18, with initial steps by July 29. Qatar, which spent months quietly mediating since April, is being praised by the African Union as delivering a “milestone.”

But Congo has seen this before.