Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Bahati shalom
Under Qatar’s Mediation, Tshisekedi and Kagame Begin Peace Talks
President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's Paul Kagame meet Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim in Doha
The President of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, and Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, met on Tuesday, March 18, in Doha. Their meeting was mediated by the Emir of Qatar, according to Reuters news agency.
For months, both leaders have been arguing about the M23 rebels. These rebels, supported by Rwanda, took control of two major cities in eastern Congo since January.
According to a joint statement seen by Reuters, "the two presidents agreed to continue discussions in Doha to build a strong foundation for lasting peace" in eastern Congo.
The United Nations and other world powers accuse Rwanda of supplying weapons and sending soldiers to fight alongside M23, a rebel group mostly made up of people from the Tutsi ethnic group.
The security situation in eastern Congo is still unstable. There have been intense fights between M23 rebels and Congo’s army, which is supported by local fighters called Wzalendo. This is happening despite many efforts to find peace.
The talks will continue in hopes of finding a long-term diplomatic solution to stop the violence that has affected civilians for decades.
