Can the Fighting in the East of Congo be Ended by the Doha Meeting?

Hopes for a settlement to the conflict in eastern Congo were revived by the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo meeting in Qatar on Tuesday.After exchanging insulting jabs for several months, the two leaders finally had a candid conversation at the encounter. According to the president of Congo’s party, Kinshasa has momentum following a successful campaign to isolate Kigali internationally.

First and foremost, we must acknowledge that the M23 has never supported peace since, despite being extended the hand of peace on multiple occasions—at SADC, EAC, and ECCAS presidents’ summits, for example, they have never accepted it. Jean Thierry Monsenepwo, a member of the Sacred Union, President Felix Tshisekedi’s coalition, stated, “Today, however, this ceasefire has been imposed on them not only by the African authorities but also, and above all, by Resolution 2773 of the United Nations Security Council. To that, we can add the sanctions imposed on them by the United States and Europe.

However, it is unclear if Kigali will be compelled to make compromises due to these incentives. The insurgents already control two regions that are rich in minerals. A meeting between the two leaders was cancelled in the capital of Angola in December due to the Rwandan president’s absence. Until two weeks ago, Kinshasa thought that direct talks with the rebels were impossible, but now it seems open to the idea.

Also Read:

The GCC Summit and Bar Abdelatty’s Unwavering Position on Palestinian Issues

At a Crossroads in Global Healthcare, African Scientists Look for Local Answers