AUC chair Mohamud Ali lauds Kagame, Tshisekedi for Qatar peace talks

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani chairs the Rwanda-DRC peace talks in Doha, March 18, 2025. /QATAR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

African Union Commission chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf has commended presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and his DRC counterpart Felix Tshisekedi for agreeing to a peace dialogue brokered by Qatar on Tuesday.

The meeting was chaired by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha.

It was the first time the two leaders met since the M23 rebels stepped up an offensive in the Eastern DRC, capturing the strategic port city of Goma.

Authorities say 7,000 people have been killed since the rebels stepped up their offensive in January.

Youssouf welcomed the Doha meeting and expressed appreciation for the statesmanship demonstrated by the two leaders toward peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Eastern DRC.

"Their engagement reflects true leadership and a shared recognition that peace, security, and stability are indispensable for the prosperity of their nations and the wider Great Lakes region," the AUC chair said in a statement dispatched by spokesperson Nuur Mohamud Sheekh.

Kagame and Tshisekedi reaffirmed their commitment to immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Eastern DRC, as agreed during the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Dar es Salaam on February 8, 2025.

Youssouf said the African Union remains resolute in its support for African-led solutions to African challenges, as embodied in the Luanda and Nairobi processes.

He nonetheless said the Doha discussions, held in a spirit of constructive engagement, align with these efforts and complement ongoing regional mechanisms.

"In this regard, we emphasise the importance of continued coordination between the African Union, regional economic communities, and international partners in fostering sustainable peace," he said.

The AUC boss expressed appreciation to the State of Qatar and His Highness the Amir for facilitating dialogue and confidence-building.

He called on all stakeholders to maintain the momentum generated in Doha and to work collectively toward the full implementation of agreed commitments for the restoration of peace and stability in Eastern DRC.

"The AUC stands ready to support and accompany these efforts, in line with its mandate to promote peace, security, and stability across the continent," he said.

Rwanda and DRC have been trading accusations over alleged backing of M23 rebel group, which operates mainly in the province of North Kivu on the borders both Uganda and Rwanda.

Rwanda denies the accusations saying its forces are acting in self-defence against the DR Congo army and allied militias.

Peace talks called last December brokered by Angola collapsed after Rwanda demanded that the DRC government speaks directly to the M23.

The M23 snubbed a fresh round of peace talks in Angola on Tuesday, spelling uncertainty over whether the group would heed an "immediate ceasefire" deal reached during the Doha talks between Kagame and Tshisekedi.