The Democratic Republic of Congo and the rebel group March 23 Movement (M23) have signed a framework peace agreement aimed at ending fighting in eastern Congo, Reuters reports. Fighting this year has killed thousands of people and displaced hundreds of thousands.

The parties signed the document on November 15 in Doha. Qatari and US officials called the agreement an important step toward peace, but one of many that remain to be accomplished. The top US envoy to the region, Massad Boulos, told Reuters that the framework document covers eight protocols, with work still needed to agree on implementation procedures for six of them. He noted that implementation of the first two protocols, concerning prisoner exchanges and ceasefire monitoring, had been slow.

The decade-long conflict between Congo and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels escalated in January. On January 26, the UN Security Council condemned the rebels' offensive and called on them to withdraw from the territory they claimed. The following day, it was reported that March 23 Movement fighters had taken control of Goma, the largest city in the east of the country. The rebels then continued to advance into North and South Kivu provinces. Rwanda, according to Reuters, long denied accusations of assisting M23.

In April, the Democratic Republic of Congo reported the deaths of more than 50 people in the east of the country over two days. The wave of violence in the country continues despite diplomatic efforts in Washington and Doha. According to Reuters, on November 14, local authorities reported the deaths of at least 28 people at the hands of militants in the eastern province of North Kivu.