DR Congo and M23 rebels start peace talks

A delegation of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) government held fresh talks with M23 rebels in Qatar last week about stopping the fighting in the country’s east, a source close to the discussions told news Reuters and AFP news agencies on Saturday.

Both sides have not yet commented on the talks.

The first round of talks was held in late March, which a source close to discussions described as “positive.” The meeting was held in private and talks are set to continue in Doha on April 9.

“Further talks are now expected in Doha, again with the Qataris mediating, to sustain the momentum and explore constructive solutions to end the conflict peacefully,” the source told AFP news agency.

The country’s army on Thursday said rebels had withdrawn from the mining hub of Walikale as decided during talks in March. Initially, they had accused the M23 of not following through on their commitment.

Walikale is the furthest west the M23 has reached. 

The conflict in Congo

The eastern Congo conflict’s complexity, rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and competition for mineral resources, is further complicating the mediation efforts. 

The DRC has vast reserves of lithium and cobalt and other minerals, especially in the east. This has led to several rebellions and clashes over control of the region. 

The ethnic Tutsi-led M23 rebel group was founded in 2012 and remains one of the most powerful rebel groups to operate in the region.

Rwanda has been accused of backing M23, which it has denied. 

The unrest in Congo has also spread around the region, with Uganda and Burundi both having troops in the country.