The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have agreed to direct peace talks, set to take place on 9 April in Doha, Qatar.
This marks a significant step towards resolving one of Central Africa’s most enduring and violent conflicts, which has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and caused widespread destruction in the region.
The talks, facilitated by Qatar, are expected to focus on key issues such as the withdrawal of M23 forces from occupied territories, the reintegration of rebel fighters, and broader security concerns in eastern DRC.
These negotiations will be the first direct discussions between the two parties since M23’s rapid offensive, which captured the DRC’s two largest eastern cities earlier this year.