Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Paul Kagame of Rwanda have reached a ceasefire agreement following high-level talks mediated by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The discussions, held in Doha on Tuesday, are part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the long-standing conflict in eastern DRC.
The ceasefire aims to bring immediate relief to the conflict-ridden region, which has been under the control of the M23 rebel group. Kinshasa has consistently accused Kigali of supporting M23, a claim that Rwanda denies, arguing that its primary concern is the presence of the FDLR, a Rwandese rebel group operating in eastern DRC.
A joint statement released by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Kagame and Tshisekedi had committed to an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire. The two leaders also agreed to continue negotiations to establish long-term stability in the region, aligning their discussions with the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes, as well as the February 2025 EAC-SADC summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
“The Heads of State agreed on the need to continue the discussions initiated in Doha to establish solid foundations for lasting peace as envisioned in the Luanda/Nairobi process,” the statement read.
Following the meeting, President Kagame emphasized Rwanda’s support for the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC)-led peace initiatives. He stressed the need for addressing the security concerns posed by the FDLR and called for direct political dialogue with the M23 rebels to address the root causes of the conflict.
Similarly, the DRC presidency confirmed the ceasefire agreement, stating that discussions on the implementation of the deal would take place in the coming days.
While this latest diplomatic breakthrough offers hope for de-escalation, the success of the ceasefire will largely depend on its enforcement on the ground and continued engagement between the two nations. With Qatar playing a mediating role, and regional peace mechanisms in place, all eyes are now on the implementation process to see if this agreement can finally bring lasting peace to eastern DRC.
