Congo M23 Rebels to Return to Qatar Peace Talks Amid Trump Administration Pressure

 

By Sydney Munale

After months of deadly conflict in Eastern Congo, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group and the Congolese government have agreed to send delegations back to peace talks in Qatar, responding to diplomatic pressure from the United States under former President Donald Trump’s administration.

The announcement comes as fighting continues to grip the mineral-rich region, where M23 now controls more territory than ever before. The conflict, rooted in longstanding ethnic tensions dating back to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Trump’s administration has taken a proactive role in trying to broker peace between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, aiming to unlock billions of dollars in Western mining investments. The region holds valuable deposits of tantalum, gold, cobalt, lithium, and other critical minerals essential to the global technology supply chain.

Last week, the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the DRC signed a peace accord in Washington, committing to a 2024 agreement that includes the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Eastern Congo within 90 days. The signing was part of a broader diplomatic push led by senior Trump advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, who termed the package of agreements the “Washington accord.” Both presidents—Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda—were invited to Washington for the ceremony.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Boulos expressed hope that a final deal could be reached in Doha by the end of July, though he also emphasized the importance of holding a follow-up summit in Washington to cement the agreement.

However, progress remains slow. At a press conference on Thursday—the first since the Washington signing—M23 spokesman Benjamin Mbonimpa indicated that while the rebels would return to Doha, they remain frustrated with what they describe as Kinshasa’s lack of seriousness in the peace process.

“We have been contacted three times by the Qatari mediator to resume dialogue since the Washington agreement,” Mbonimpa said, noting that the rebels continue to insist on critical preconditions such as the release of imprisoned M23 fighters and the reopening of banks in rebel-held territories.

In response, the Congolese presidency confirmed its delegation would also return to the Doha talks, signaling a shared willingness to continue negotiations despite ongoing tensions.

Meanwhile, a recent United Nations expert panel report obtained by Reuters alleges that Rwanda exercised command and control over M23 during their military advances. Kigali has rejected the report, insisting it misrepresents Rwanda’s security concerns, particularly regarding the presence of ethnic Hutu militias linked to the 1994 genocide.

Despite these challenges, Boulos remains optimistic about the peace prospects. “Both Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame are serious about reaching a deal,” he said, underscoring the importance of diplomatic efforts to end the protracted conflict.

As the world watches, the outcome of the Doha talks could mark a turning point for Eastern Congo, potentially stabilizing a volatile region and opening the door to significant economic development fueled by its vast mineral wealth.

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