Congolese government forces and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have agreed to a temporary ceasefire while they continue to negotiate a broader peace deal for the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Talks are being brokered by Qatar.

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed an agreement to respect each other's sovereignty and come up with a draft peace deal by 2 May. The deal was signed by the two countries' foreign ministers in Washington, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also present at Friday's ceremony.

Congo and Rwanda vowed to come up with a draft peace deal by May 2 and refrain from providing military support to armed groups, according to an agreement signed in Washington on Friday as part of diplomatic efforts to end violence in eastern Congo.