The joint statement issued by the Qatari foreign affairs ministry stated that both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. This development comes after months of tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, with the DRC accusing Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, a claim Rwanda denies.
The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of over 700,000 people, according to the United Nations. The M23 rebels have taken control of mineral-rich areas in eastern DRC and have threatened to overthrow Tshisekedi’s government.
The ceasefire call is a significant step towards resolving the conflict, but it remains to be seen whether the M23 rebels will heed the call. The rebels had previously refused to attend peace talks in Angola.
The meeting between Kagame and Tshisekedi was the first time the two leaders had met in public since the conflict began. The Qatari-mediated peace talk is seen as a positive step towards finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
