The presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Rwanda met in Qatar for the first direct talks since Rwanda-backed M23 rebels took control of two key cities in mineral-rich eastern Congo earlier this year, according to the three governments.
Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame met on Tuesday to address the insurgency, according to a joint statement from the three governments.
The gathering comes after an earlier attempt to bring Congo’s government and M23 leaders together for ceasefire talks on Tuesday failed.
The rebels withdrew Monday after the European Union imposed penalties on rebel commanders.
Congo and Rwanda reaffirmed their commitment to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire during the meeting in Qatar on Tuesday.
Peace talks between Congo and Rwanda were unexpectedly cancelled in December after Rwanda made the signing of a peace agreement conditional on a direct dialogue between Congo and the M23 rebels, which Congo refused at the time.
The conflict in eastern Congo escalated in January when the Rwanda-backed rebels advanced and seized the strategic city of Goma, followed by Bukavu in February.
M23 is one of over 100 armed groups battling for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo near the Rwandan border, in a conflict that has resulted in one of the world’s most severe humanitarian catastrophes.
More than seven million people have been displaced.
According to UN experts, the rebels are backed by some 4,000 troops from neighbouring Rwanda and have threatened to march as far east as Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, which is about 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles).
Last month, the UN Human Rights Council established a panel to investigate atrocities, including allegations of rape and killings that resembled “summary executions” on both sides.
