The African Union (AU) has welcomed peace talks between Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame in Doha, Qatar. The two leaders met on Tuesday to discuss a ceasefire in eastern DRC, where fighting has escalated since M23 rebels seized key cities.
The AU Chairperson commended the leaders for their commitment to dialogue, urging all parties to maintain momentum. The talks were held after M23 representatives pulled out of a planned meeting with DRC officials in Angola due to EU sanctions on some senior group members.
M23 is one of over 200 armed groups vying for control over eastern Congo’s rich mineral resources. The Congolese government, US, and UN experts accuse Rwanda of backing the group, which Kigali denies.
The conflict has created a massive humanitarian crisis, with nearly 7 million people affected, including at least 3.5 million children.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/19/au-welcomes-doha-talks-between-dr-congo-and-rwanda-leaders