M23 and DRC Officials in Doha for Talks

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) officials and negotiators for the Rwanda backed M23 rebels have arrived in Doha, Qatar for talks to craft modalities of a ceasefire and end months of conflict that have brought fears of a possible wider regional conflict.

The M23 Invasion in Eastern DRC

M23’s invasion of the Eastern  DRC  this year has left thousands of civilians dead, hundreds displaced and given the rebels control over much of the DRC’s eastern borderlands; an area rich in tin, gold and coltan. Members of both delegations confirmed their presence in the Qatari capital and hinted of a face-to-face meeting. The elementary  stage of the talks is to discuss the framework that will guide the talks ahead.

Qatar convened a meeting last month between the DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame. It was the two leaders’ first encounter since M23 launched its current offensive in January. The subsequent push for peace talks is the latest effort to end the years-long conflict, which stems from the1994 genocide in Rwanda.

How the M23 and DRC Talks Started

A source with knowledge of Qatar’s mediation intimated that the two sides held a discreet meeting in Doha earlier this month to prepare the peace talks.

But the negotiations, originally meant to start on Wednesday 9th April 2025 continue to hit a snag.  According to sources, M23 side is accusing Kinshasa of sending inexperienced negotiators to Doha, a move they say will stifle the expected gains of Ceasefire and amicable settlement of the conflict. “Kinshasa sent delegates without qualifications or the ability to negotiate,” one of the rebel sources said on Thursday.

Resolution

A DRC government source, meanwhile, cautioned that any resolution of the conflict would take months. The United Nations and Western governments say Rwanda has provided arms and troops to the ethnic Tutsi-led M23.

Rwanda has denied backing M23. It says its military has acted in self-defence against DRC’s army and a Rwandan militia operating in the eastern DRC that was founded by perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide, which targeted Tutsis and moderate Hutus. M23 had long demanded direct negotiations with Kinshasa. Tshisekedi had refused, however, arguing that M23 was merely a proxy for Rwanda.

Conclusion

The DRC’s government then agreed to direct talks in Angola last month, but M23 pulled out a day before they could begin, citing European Union sanctions imposed on M23 and Rwandan officials.