Congo, Rwanda presidents call for east Congo ceasefire during Qatar talks

The presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in eastern Congo following their first meeting since the M23 rebel group intensified its offensive in January.

President Felix Tshisekedi of Congo and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda made the appeal during a meeting in Doha on Tuesday, mediated by Qatar’s emir. A joint statement issued after the talks said the ceasefire should be “immediate and unconditional”.

However, it remains uncertain whether the M23 rebels will adhere to the call. The insurgents currently control more territory than ever before in eastern Congo, including the region’s two largest cities.

Congo has accused Rwanda of backing the rebels by supplying arms and deploying troops, escalating the worst conflict the region has seen in decades. Rwanda, in turn, insists its forces are acting in self-defence against Congo’s army and militias it considers hostile to Kigali.

Efforts by neighbouring countries to broker a truce have so far struggled. A planned meeting in Angola between Congo’s government and M23 leaders was cancelled after the rebels withdrew on Monday.

Despite this, Tuesday’s meeting in Qatar appeared to mark a step toward dialogue. Tshisekedi and Kagame “agreed on the need to continue the discussions initiated in Doha in order to establish solid foundations for lasting peace,” the joint statement said.

A diplomat familiar with the talks described the meeting as “informal” and noted it was “not meant to replace any existing efforts.”

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The conflict in eastern Congo has deep roots, tracing back to the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and ongoing competition over mineral resources. The violence has surged since January, leaving thousands dead and displacing hundreds of thousands.

Qatar, which has recently acted as a mediator in several global conflicts, including efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, played a key role in organising the meeting. 

According to Congolese analyst Bob Kabamba of the University of Liege in Belgium, Qatar’s close ties with Rwanda made it difficult for Kagame to reject the invitation, a factor Tshisekedi likely recognised as well.

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