Delegations from the Congolese government and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have arrived in Doha, Qatar, for crucial talks aimed at establishing a ceasefire.
Sources confirmed to Reuters that this marks a significant step towards ending months of intense fighting in eastern Congo.
The escalating conflict has triggered widespread fears of a broader regional war, displacing hundreds of thousands and causing numerous civilian deaths.
Mediated by Qatar, the discussions follow a prior meeting in Doha between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
This encounter was their first since the M23 launched its recent offensive in January, highlighting the urgency of the current negotiations.
While both sides confirmed their presence and a preliminary meeting, the framework for substantive talks is still under discussion.
Sources from both the government and the rebels, speaking anonymously at the mediators’ request, revealed the complexities of the ongoing process.
One rebel source alleged that Kinshasa’s delegation lacked the necessary authority for effective negotiation.
Conversely, a Congolese government source cautioned that a resolution to the protracted conflict could take several months to achieve.
The international community, including the United Nations and Western governments, has accused Rwanda of providing support to the M23, a claim Kigali vehemently denies.
The M23 had long sought direct negotiations with Kinshasa, a demand initially resisted by Tshisekedi, who viewed the group as a Rwandan proxy.
Despite previous setbacks, the Doha talks represent a renewed effort to quell the violence that has plagued Congo’s mineral-rich eastern borderlands for years.