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World丨DR Congo, Rwandan leaders hold cease-fire talks

CHINADAILY · 公众号 · 时评 · 2025-03-20 11:55

正文

The presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda met in Doha on Tuesday for talks mediated by Qatar, during which they voiced support for a cease-fire in the eastern DR Congo, hours after peace talks in Angola failed.

According to a joint statement issued by Qatar's Foreign Ministry, DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended the meeting.

The statement said the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to an "immediate and unconditional" cease-fire as agreed at a February summit held in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam, and further agreed on the need to continue discussions initiated in Doha to establish a solid foundation for lasting peace.

▲ An internally displaced child looks on in a room hit by a shell where he is taking refuge, in Sake, North Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on March 13. Arlette Bashizi/REUTERS

Fighting between the DR Congo government and the March 23 Movement, or M23, rebel group has intensified in recent months as M23 launched major offensives in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, capturing several key towns.

The ongoing violence has displaced thousands, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the eastern DR Congo.

The M23 called earlier on Tshisekedi to make an unequivocal public declaration committing to direct negotiations. The DR Congo government has consistently considered it a red line to sit at the same negotiation table with the rebels.

Meanwhile, DR Congo has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23. Rwanda said the DR Congo military has allied with the Rwandan rebel group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which was allegedly involved in the 1994 genocide.