Doha 2025: the agreement that restores the Congolese state's effective sovereignty

Signed on July 19, 2025, in Doha between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the RDF/M23 movement, the Declaration of Principles marks a major step toward peace. But at the heart of this agreement is one overriding priority: restoring the authority of the Congolese state throughout the country.

Why State Authority is Key

The recent history of conflicts cruelly demonstrates this: without the restoration of institutions, no peace agreement can last. In Somalia, after 1991, the collapse of the state gave way to decades of chaos. In Lebanon, it was the return of the national army after the Taif Agreement (1989) that brought about stabilization. In Colombia, the agreement with the FARC (2016) was insufficient where the state remained absent, allowing dissidents and narco-militants to flourish.

What Doha plans

To avoid the failure of the Addis Ababa agreement (2013), where the M23 had been partially demobilized but had taken up arms again in 2022, Doha introduced strong guarantees:

A permanent ceasefire , a prerequisite for the return of public administration. An international verification mechanism (MONUSCO, African Union, Qatar) to monitor the withdrawal and implementation. A clear roadmap for redeploying the Congolese army (FARDC) and restarting public services.

Giving the State a face again

In the areas controlled by the M23 , the population has suffered abuses, massive displacement (more than 500,000 people since January 2025) and the looting of resources. Restoring the state does not just mean disarming the militias: it involves restoring justice, health, education, the economy, in short, rebuilding a sovereignty experienced on a daily basis.

The real test: action

The Doha Declaration provides a strong legal and political framework. But everything now depends on execution:

Complete and verified withdrawal of the M23, effective presence of civil and military authorities, credible international monitoring and sanctions against those who refuse to comply.

As the Congolese government has pointed out, peace is not a matter of diplomacy, but rather of action on the ground. Restoring effective sovereignty to the Congolese state means refusing to allow armed groups to define the future of a people of more than 100 million.