Congo-Rwanda Ceasefire Talks in Qatar Mediated by Emir Sheikh Tamim: Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame Meet

Congo-Rwanda Ceasefire Talks in Qatar Mediated by Emir Sheikh Tamim: Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame Meet

In Qatar, Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Paul Kagame of Rwanda held their first direct meeting. This meeting came after the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group seized two major cities in eastern DRC.

During the meeting, mediated by the Emir of Qatar, the three countries jointly called for an "immediate ceasefire." A joint statement stated, "The heads of state agreed on the necessity of continuing the discussions that began in Doha to establish a strong foundation for lasting peace." The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, but Rwanda denies these allegations.

The meeting followed the withdrawal of M23 representatives from a planned meeting with the DRC government in Angola on Tuesday. This decision came after the European Union imposed sanctions on top M23 members, including their leader, Bertrand Bisimwa.

In a statement, M23 said that the sanctions "create a serious obstacle to direct dialogue and have halted any progress."

The European Union also imposed sanctions on three Rwandan military commanders and the head of a Rwandan mining company accused of supporting M23 fighters.

The conflict in eastern DRC escalated in January 2023 when the rebels seized the strategic city of Goma, and in February, they also took Bukavu. The M23 group is one of nearly 100 rebel groups fighting to strengthen their positions in the mineral-rich eastern DRC.

This conflict has caused a large-scale humanitarian crisis, displacing over 7 million people. According to UN experts, the rebels are supported by nearly 4,000 Rwandan soldiers.