The Presidents of Congo and Rwanda, Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, met in Qatar on Tuesday March 18 for their first direct talks since Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized two major cities in eastern Congo earlier this year.
The meeting, mediated by Qatar, aimed to address the ongoing insurgency and was marked by discussions of a ceasefire. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, although no details were provided on how it would be implemented or monitored.
The talks come after a previous attempt to negotiate a ceasefire between Congo’s government and M23 rebels ended in failure when the rebels withdrew following European Union sanctions on their leaders. The ongoing conflict, involving multiple armed groups in mineral-rich eastern Congo, has displaced more than 7 million people and is one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises. The M23 rebels, who are allegedly supported by Rwanda, have captured strategic cities like Goma and Bukavu, escalating tensions in the region.
Qatar has played a significant role in international mediation, having hosted peace talks between the Taliban and the U.S., as well as discussions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict. The current informal talks between Tshisekedi and Kagame, which were reportedly aimed at building trust, follow the cancellation of peace talks in December due to disagreements over the participation of M23 rebels in the dialogue.