Representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group convened in Qatar on Wednesday to discuss a broader ceasefire, according to a diplomat informed about the negotiations who spoke to AFP.
Last week, the Rwandan-supported M23 requested additional discussions to tackle issues overlooked in a peace agreement between Kigali and Kinshasa, which was signed in Washington in June. This pact, established by the DRC and Rwanda, aimed to end the violence that has claimed thousands of lives in eastern Congo, an area rich in minerals.
However, the M23, the armed faction opposing Congolese troops, did not participate in the Washington discussions and sought a distinct ceasefire arrangement with the DRC government. In a rapid offensive in January and February, the M23 captured large territories in eastern DRC, including the vital provincial cities of Goma and Bukavu.
Eastern DRC has been embroiled in conflict for over thirty years, displacing hundreds of thousands of individuals from their residences.
While Rwanda denies offering military support to the group, UN experts claim that the Rwandan military has played a “critical” role in the M23’s offensive, including engaging in combat.
Since February, the front lines in eastern DRC have stabilised; however, clashes continue to erupt regularly between the M23 and various pro-government militias.
