M23 rebels and Congo reopen peace negotiations in Doha, according to sources

In a diplomatic attempt to put an end to violence in the war-torn east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, sources reported Tuesday that peace negotiations between the M23 rebels, who are supported by Rwanda, and the DRC had resumed in Qatar.

The last time the two sides met was in April in Doha to explore an agreement that would put an end to the bloodshed that has killed thousands, displaced hundreds of thousands, and sparked worries of a larger regional conflict.

The most recent round of negotiations started on May 3, a source familiar with the Doha negotiations told Reuters.

“Both parties have expressed optimism about the dialogue, and the negotiations are being held in a positive atmosphere,” the official, who wished to remain unnamed, added.

Two rebel sources, however, protested that government delegates had not been given the authority to make any decisions in Doha and said that M23 had sent a lower-level delegation than in the previous session last month.

Additionally, they claimed that government representatives had not gone far enough in securing the release of suspected M23 members who were being held by Congo.

On Tuesday, a request for comment was not immediately answered by a government official. According to a source in the administration of Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, amnesty was occasionally considered and peace was Kinshasa’s top goal.

Following the negotiations last month, both parties issued statements pledging to put an end to hate speech and acts of violence. They also urged the Congolese people to support a truce and assist in fostering a positive atmosphere for communication.

However, attendees bemoaned the discussions’ rapid entanglement in technical jargon.

Since then, fighting in the eastern Congo has persisted. According to the U.N. humanitarian office, at least 30,000 people have been displaced since Friday due to armed fighting in the province of North Kivu.

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Since arranging a surprise meeting between Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame in March, Qatar has been active in negotiations to put an end to the continued escalation of violence in eastern Congo, which is a component of a conflict that dates back decades and has its roots in the genocide during Rwanda.

Western governments and the UN claim that Rwanda has given M23 troops and weapons. Denying support for M23, Rwanda claims its military has defended itself against Congo’s army and a militia established by those responsible for the 1994 genocide.

Along with pushing for a settlement and bilateral economic packages with both Rwanda and Congo to be finalized by July, Washington is also attempting to mediate peace between the two countries.

According to Massad Boulos, senior adviser for Africa under U.S. President Donald Trump, the bilateral agreements would attract billions of dollars in Western investment to a region that is abundant in vital resources.