DRC government, rebels agree to humanitarian protocol

The U.S. State Department announced that representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo government and the rebel coalition Alliance Fleuve Congo have made progress on a comprehensive protocol. The agreement covers humanitarian access to conflict-affected areas, judicial protection measures, ceasefire oversight mechanisms, and the release of prisoners. This development represents a significant step toward de-escalating tensions in the volatile eastern DRC region where the rebel coalition has been active. The State Department's statement indicates both sides are moving closer to formalizing these commitments, though implementation details remain to be finalized.