M23 rebel and Congolese government delegations are in Doha for negotiations, according to sources

Officials from Congo and negotiators representing the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have arrived in Doha to engage in discussions aimed at establishing a ceasefire and bringing an end to months of conflict, which has heightened concerns about a potential broader regional crisis, according to four sources who spoke to Reuters on Thursday.

The swift progress of M23 this year has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, displaced hundreds of thousands, and granted the rebels control over significant portions of the eastern borderlands of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a region abundant in tin, gold, and coltan.

Representatives from both delegations have affirmed their attendance in the Qatari capital, indicating that a face-to-face meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, while discussions regarding the framework for talks continue.

All sources, including two government officials and two rebel representatives, requested anonymity due to the Qatari mediators’ request for them not to speak to journalists.

Last month, Qatar organized a meeting between President Felix Tshisekedi of Congo and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame.

This marked the initial meeting between the two leaders since M23 initiated its ongoing offensive in January. The recent initiative for peace talks represents the most recent attempt to resolve the prolonged conflict, which traces back to the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.

A knowledgeable source regarding Qatar’s mediation informed Reuters that the two parties engaged in a private meeting in Doha earlier this month to lay the groundwork for the peace talks.

However, the negotiations, which were initially scheduled to commence on Wednesday, continue to encounter obstacles.

A rebel source stated on Thursday, “Kinshasa sent delegates lacking qualifications and the ability to negotiate.”

A source from the Congolese government, on the other hand, warned that resolving the conflict could take several months.

The United Nations and Western governments assert that Rwanda has supplied arms and troops to the ethnic Tutsi-led M23.

Rwanda has refuted allegations of supporting M23. The statement indicates that its military has engaged in self-defense against the Congolese army and a Rwandan militia active in eastern Congo, which was established by those responsible for the Rwandan genocide that targeted Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

M23 had consistently sought direct negotiations with Kinshasa. Tshisekedi, however, had refused, contending that M23 was simply a proxy for Rwanda.

Last month, the government of Congo consented to engage in direct talks in Angola; however, M23 withdrew just a day prior to the scheduled start, referencing sanctions from the European Union that were imposed on both M23 and Rwandan officials.