Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame have called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Congo, the first since M23 rebels escalated their offensive in January. The joint statement, issued along with Qatar’s emir, who mediated the talks in Doha, demands “immediate and unconditional” action.
However, it remains unclear whether this will halt the M23 insurgents, who now control more territory than ever before, including the region’s two biggest cities. Congo accuses Rwanda of sending arms and troops to support the rebels, while Rwanda maintains its forces are acting in self-defense against hostile Congolese army and militias.
The conflict has ravaged eastern Congo since January, killing thousands and displacing hundreds of thousands. The Gulf Arab state of Qatar has brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza earlier this week, but its involvement in the current talks raises questions about its neutrality.
Analysts say Tshisekedi faces significant challenges in finding a solution to the conflict, which is rooted in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and competition for mineral resources. A diplomat described the meeting as “informal” and said it would not replace existing efforts.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congolese-rwandan-presidents-meet-qatar-discuss-east-congo-conflict-2025-03-18