The African Union has welcomed talks in Doha between DRC’s Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame amid ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. The leaders called for an immediate ceasefire during their first direct discussions since the M23 rebel group’s territorial seizures. The situation is complicated by regional tensions and humanitarian crises.
The African Union (AU) has expressed support for recent talks in Doha between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. These discussions take place amid ongoing conflict in the mineral-rich eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). AU Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf praised both countries for their dialogue commitment and urged all parties involved to sustain the momentum in their discussions.
On Tuesday, the two leaders met to engage in direct talks, their first since the M23, a rebel group allegedly backed by Rwanda, captured two critical cities in eastern DRC earlier this year. Following their meeting, Tshisekedi and Kagame issued a joint statement calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire while emphasizing that details of the ceasefire’s execution would be clarified shortly.
The Doha talks were prompted after M23 representatives withdrew from anticipated discussions with DRC officials in Angola due to new European Union sanctions targeting some of the group’s senior leaders as well as Rwandan military personnel. M23 is among over 200 armed factions competing for control of territory in the eastern DRC, an area rich in valuable minerals such as cobalt.
The Rwandan government denies allegations of supporting M23, despite accusations from the Congolese government, the United States, and UN experts. After a decade-long lull, M23 resumed its hostilities in 2022 and intensified its operations in January, seizing cities such as Goma and Bukavu. The ongoing conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 7 million people affected, including over 3.5 million children, according to UN reports.
The AU’s endorsement of the Doha talks between the DRC and Rwanda underscores the importance of dialogue in resolving the ongoing conflict exacerbated by rebel actions in eastern DRC. The call for a ceasefire by Tshisekedi and Kagame represents a crucial step toward peace. However, the situation remains complex due to M23’s involvement and allegations of foreign support, which contribute to the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
