The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) officially “accepted in principle” a new ceasefire on Friday, February 13, 2026. This move seeks to end the brutal instability in the country’s eastern provinces. It follows intense pressure from regional mediators, led by Angola, who proposed a formal halt to fighting starting February 18, 2026.
President Felix Tshisekedi agreed to the plan “in a spirit of responsibility and de-escalation,” according to the Congolese presidency. While Kinshasa has signaled its intent, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have not yet officially responded. Previously, M23 leaders expressed a willingness to stop fighting if the Congolese military halted offensive operations.
The “Freeze of Positions” Framework
For the first time since the M23’s 2021 resurgence, the DRC has defined a clear implementation framework. The ceasefire rests on four vital pillars:
- Immediate Freeze of Positions: A strict ban on troop movements from current locations.
- Military De-escalation: An end to all reinforcements and personnel rotations.
- Supply Halt: No offensive resupplying or logistics operations are allowed.
- No External Support: A call for the total withdrawal of outside aid to armed groups on national soil.
30 Years of Conflict in the East
The eastern DRC has faced violence for three decades. Scores of armed groups currently fight for control of the region’s massive mineral wealth. The crisis reached a breaking point in January 2025 when M23 forces captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu. By February 2025, the group had also seized Bukavu in South Kivu.
Mediators from the African Union (AU) hope that high-level global involvement will provide the leverage needed to break the cycle of broken truces. Since 2021, at least six separate peace deals have been signed and subsequently ignored.
Multi-National Diplomatic Mediation
The current peace effort is a complex international web:
Regional Leaders
- Angola: President Joao Lourenco led the AU charge, setting the February 18 start date.
- Togo: President Faure Gnassingbe was appointed by the AU to steer negotiations alongside Angola.
International Accords
- The Washington Accords (Dec 2025): A US-brokered deal between the DRC and Rwanda targeting the “war economy.”
- The Doha Framework (July 2025): Qatar-led mediation that established initial ceasefire commitments and verification rules.
UN and Resolution 2808
The United Nations will play a major role in monitoring the truce. In December 2025, the Security Council passed Resolution 2808, extending the MONUSCO peacekeeping mandate until December 20, 2026.
Vivian van de Perre, the acting head of the mission, oversees roughly 11,500 personnel. She confirmed that UN air reconnaissance will soon deploy in Uvira, a strategic city on the Burundi border. Uvira was briefly held by M23 in late 2025 before they withdrew under US pressure.
The Road Ahead
As the February 18 deadline nears, the focus shifts to the M23 leadership and the Rwandan government. Success hinges on UN observers strictly monitoring the “freeze of positions.” For the millions of displaced people in North and South Kivu, this deal offers a fragile chance at safety in a region where peace has been elusive.
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