President Félix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame called for a “immediate ceasefire” for the Congo doctor in eastern Congo after direct negotiations in Qatar.
This is the first time that two leaders have launched an offensive in the region since Rwanda supported the M23 rebels, with authorities saying 7,000 people have been killed since January.
It is unclear whether the M23 will pay attention to the ceasefire call after the rebels refused to attend peace talks in Angola on Tuesday.
The Congolese doctor accused Rwanda of arming the M23 and sent troops to support the rebels in the conflict. Although both the United Nations and the United States claim are denied by Rwanda for supporting M23.
Rwanda said its troops were in self-defense operations against Congolese soldiers and allied militias. The Congolese doctor also accused Rwanda of illegally using its mineral deposits in the eastern part of the country, which Rwanda also denied.
In December last year, peace talks led by Angola collapsed after Rwanda asked the Congolese doctor to have a direct dialogue with M23.
The rebel group then quickly promoted over the past two months, controlling two major cities – Goma and Bukavo.
According to a joint statement issued by the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, the two African presidents reiterated their commitment to a “direct and unconditional” ceasefire, but it is not clear how it can be implemented or monitored.
It added: “The heads of state then reached a discussion that must continue in Doha to establish a foundation for lasting peace.”
In confirming talks in the Qatari capital, the President of Rwanda insisted in another statement that the direct dialogue between the Congolese doctor and M23 was “critical to resolve the root causes of the conflict”.
President Kagame said his belief is that “all parties work together and things can move forward faster”.
The talks were initiated by Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, spokesman for the President of Congo, who described the Gulf of Mexico as “a strategic allies of the two.” [African] nation”.
The meeting was due to previous attempts to bring together the government of the Congolese Doctor and the M23 rebels to conduct a failed peace negotiation. The rebels withdrew on Monday after the EU announced sanctions on its leadership.
You may also be right:
go bbcafrica.com More news about the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @bbcafrica,on Facebook BBC Africa Or on Instagram bbcafraca
BBC Africa Podcast
