The Democratic Republic of the Congo has handed over 15 detainees to M23 rebels in what marks the first documented prisoner exchange resulting from Qatar’s mediation efforts. The International Committee of the Red Cross oversaw the transfer, which took place over two days this week as part of broader peace negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the country’s eastern regions.
The prisoners departed from the government-controlled city of Beni on Thursday evening and traveled through Uganda before arriving in North Kivu province on Friday, where they were officially transferred to the rebel group. The exchange followed months of negotiations to identify which detainees would participate in the release, according to ICRC officials.
The prisoner transfer represents a significant condition outlined in the Qatar-brokered agreement that the Congolese government and M23 signed last September. Officials from the ICRC expressed optimism that the successful handover could facilitate additional releases and help reunite families separated by the prolonged fighting in the region.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the exchange as an important development in building confidence between the opposing parties. The statement emphasized hopes that such steps would encourage further progress toward establishing lasting peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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