At the meeting, mediated by Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the heads of state pledged that all parties would commit to an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire, the three leaders said in a joint statement released after the meeting in Doha.
“The Heads of State then agreed on the need to continue the negotiations initiated in Doha in order to establish solid foundations for lasting peace,” they added in the statement.
The two presidents, Felix Tshisekedi (DR Congo) and Paul Kagame (Rwanda), were due to meet at a peace summit called for December 15 in Luanda, after a ceasefire agreement signed in the Angolan capital on July 30 and which came into effect on August 4 was interrupted by new fighting. The meeting ended up not taking place due to Kagame's absence.
The meeting between the two leaders in Doha took place on the same day that a direct peace dialogue was scheduled to begin between delegations from the DR Congo and the rebels in Angola, which is also acting as a mediator in the conflict.
The meeting in Angola did not take place, after the M23 cancelled its participation following the imposition of sanctions against some of its leaders by the European Union (EU).
In a statement released late afternoon in Luanda, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the meeting between delegations from the DR Congo and the M23 was postponed to an “opportune moment”, due to “force majeure circumstances”.
“The Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs national and international public opinion that, for reasons and circumstances of force majeure, it was not possible to hold, this Tuesday, March 18, in Luanda, the scheduled meeting between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the March 23 Movement (M23)”, reads the statement.
The Government, which assumes the role of mediator in the search for a solution to the ongoing conflict in eastern DRCongo, assures that it “continues to make every effort to ensure that the aforementioned meeting takes place at an opportune time, reaffirming that dialogue is the only lasting solution for peace” in that region of neighboring DRCongo.
The Luanda meeting would mark the beginning of direct negotiations for peace and was part of the “steps taken by Angolan mediation in the conflict affecting eastern DR Congo,” as announced by the Presidency.
João Lourenço, acting president of the African Union (AU) since last February, acted as a facilitator to promote peace and security in the region and reduce tensions between the DR Congo and Rwanda, a country accused of militarily supporting the M23 rebels.
The M23 has been advancing into democratic Congolese territory since January, when it took Goma, capital of North Kivu province.
In February, the M23, which is supported by Rwanda - according to the UN and countries such as the US, Germany and France - took control of Bukavu, the strategic capital of the neighboring province of South Kivu.
The rebels now control the capitals of these two provinces, which border Rwanda and are rich in minerals such as gold and coltan, essential for the technology industry and the manufacture of mobile phones.
