Qatar hosted a second round of diplomatic talks on Friday between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, as efforts to ease tensions between the two neighboring nations continue. Additionally, Qatari mediators held separate meetings with representatives of the M23 rebel group, which has been at the center of renewed conflict in eastern Congo, according to four sources familiar with the discussions.
The meeting follows a recent high-level dialogue in Doha between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame their first direct talks since the M23 rebels escalated their military offensive in January. Despite repeated international calls for de-escalation, the conflict has persisted, fueling humanitarian crises and straining regional stability.
According to two sources from the Congolese government and two from the M23 rebels, Friday’s discussions involved Congolese and Rwandan officials separately addressing key points of contention, including security concerns and accusations of external interference. In a parallel meeting, Qatari mediators engaged with M23 representatives, seeking to understand the group’s grievances and explore possible resolutions to the ongoing hostilities.
The M23 rebels, who claim to be fighting for the rights of Congolese Tutsis, have seized significant territory in eastern DRC, triggering displacement and violence. The DRC government has long accused Rwanda of backing the insurgents an allegation Kigali denies. Rwanda, in turn, has blamed Congo for harboring the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Qatar’s diplomatic intervention signals increased international involvement in the conflict, which has also drawn the attention of regional bodies such as the East African Community (EAC) and the African Union (AU). Previous peace efforts, including military interventions and regional negotiations, have yielded limited success in curbing the fighting.
As negotiations continue, the international community watches closely, hoping for a breakthrough that could lead to a sustainable resolution. The conflict in eastern Congo has already displaced over a million people, underscoring the urgent need for a lasting peace agreement between the DRC, Rwanda, and the M23 rebels
