The Congolese government and M23 rebels have held their first direct talks in Qatar, marking a significant step towards halting the months-long conflict in eastern Congo.
The private discussions, which took place last week, were deemed positive and led to the rebels’ withdrawal from the strategic town of Walikale as a goodwill gesture.
The conflict began in January when M23 rebels seized eastern Congo’s two largest cities, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacing hundreds of thousands of people.
Further talks are scheduled for April 9 in Doha, where both parties will continue negotiations.
The Congolese government and M23 rebels have not commented on the talks.
The conflict has raised fears of a wider regional war, with neighboring countries Uganda and Burundi also having troops in the region.
Rwanda has denied providing arms and troops to the ethnic Tutsi-led M23, saying its military has acted in self-defense against Congo’s army and a militia founded by perpetrators of the 1994 genocide, while the United Nations and Western governments claim Rwanda has supported M23.
