African Union Praises Rwanda-DRC Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict

The African Union (AU) has commended the recent talks held in Doha, Qatar, between the heads of state of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), even as fighting continues to escalate in the mineral-rich eastern DRC, Al Jazeera reports.

AU Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf issued a statement on Wednesday welcoming the dialogue between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, urging all parties to “maintain the momentum.” The AU, according to Youssouf, “remains resolute in its support for African-led solutions to African challenges” and views the Doha discussions as aligning with these efforts.

The meeting on Tuesday marked the first direct talks between Tshisekedi and Kagame since Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized two major cities in eastern DRC earlier this year. The leaders issued a joint statement calling for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” with details on implementation to be clarified “in the coming days.”

The Doha talks occurred after M23 representatives withdrew from a planned meeting with DRC officials in Angola following the European Union’s imposition of sanctions on senior M23 members, including leader Bertrand Bisimwa. The EU also sanctioned three Rwandan military commanders and Rwanda’s mining agency chief, citing support for the rebel group.

The M23 is one of over 200 armed groups vying for control in eastern DRC, a region abundant in valuable minerals such as cobalt. The Congolese government, the United States, and a group of United Nations experts have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23, accusations Kigali denies.

After a period of dormancy, the M23 resumed its offensive in eastern DRC in 2022, intensifying its attacks in January and seizing the strategic city of Goma, followed by Bukavu in February.

The conflict in eastern DRC has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with nearly 7 million people, including at least 3.5 million children, requiring assistance, according to the United Nations.