Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame met in Qatar on Tuesday for their first direct talks since M23 rebels stepped up an offensive in east Congo in January, the three governments said.
The meeting, mediated by the Emir of Qatar, comes amid a rapid advance that has seen M23 seize eastern Congo’s two largest cities.
Congo accuses Rwanda of sending arms and Rwandan troops to support the rebels, whose offensive has plunged eastern Congo into its worst conflict in decades.
Rwanda has said its forces are acting in self defence against Congo’s army and militias hostile to Kigali.
Neighbouring countries have been working to broker a ceasefire but an attempt to bring Congo’s government and M23 leaders together at a meeting in Angola on Tuesday failed when M23 pulled out on Monday afternoon.
“The Heads of State reaffirmed the commitment of all parties to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” the three governments said in a joint statement.
“The Heads of State then agreed on the need to continue the discussions initiated in Doha in order to establish solid foundations for lasting peace.”
A diplomat briefed on the talks said the meeting was “informal” and “not meant to replace any existing efforts.”
The conflict in east Congo is rooted in the fallout from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi’s and competition for mineral riches.
It has quickly spiralled since January, with thousands of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced from their homes.
The Gulf Arab state of Qatar has acted as a mediator in a number of conflicts, most recently working with Egypt and the U.S. to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which broke down earlier on Tuesday.
What we know
- Qatar mediates talks between DRC, Rwanda presidents
- Meeting their first since latest escalation in conflict
- Presidents affirm commitment to reaching a ceasefire
- Say discussions need to continue to find ‘lasting peace’ (Reuters)
