The African Union has welcomed the recent Doha talks between DR Congo and Rwanda leaders amid ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. AU Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf commended their commitment to dialogue and emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum. The leaders called for an immediate ceasefire, while the humanitarian crisis in the region continues to escalate.
The African Union (AU) has positively acknowledged the recent discussions occurring in Doha between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. These talks aim to address ongoing tensions as conflict continues in the mineral-rich eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). AU Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf expressed gratitude for their commitment to dialogue and encouraged all involved parties to sustain this diplomatic momentum.
The Doha meeting marked the first direct dialogue between the two leaders since the Rwanda-supported M23 rebels captured significant territories in the eastern DRC earlier this year. Following their discussions, a joint statement was released, urging for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” with specific implementation details expected in the near future.
The talks were prompted after M23 representatives withdrew from a scheduled meeting with DRC officials in Angola, following sanctions imposed by the European Union on some M23 leaders and Rwandan military personnel for their involvement with the rebel group. M23 is among more than 200 militias competing for control in eastern DRC, a region known for its valuable mineral resources.
Accusations of Rwanda’s support for M23, asserted by the Congolese government, the United States, and United Nations experts, have been denied by Kigali. The M23 group, which had laid low for over ten years, reignited its offensive in 2022, rapidly expanding its control over cities like Goma and Bukavu early in 2023. The ongoing conflict contributes to one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally, affecting nearly 7 million individuals with at least 3.5 million children among the displaced, as reported by the United Nations.
The African Union supports the recent peace talks between the leaders of DR Congo and Rwanda in Doha, aiming for a resolution to ongoing hostilities. Both leaders have agreed to pursue immediate ceasefire measures while the AU emphasizes the importance of African solutions to local conflicts. The situation remains urgent as humanitarian crises continue to escalate in the DRC, necessitating swift action and sustained diplomatic efforts.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
