Negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group are showing signs of progress, a diplomat said Thursday.
The talks, held in Qatar, aim to address unresolved issues from a June peace deal signed by DRC and Rwanda in Washington.
Although the M23 was not part of the Washington agreement, it later demanded direct negotiations with Kinshasa to secure a separate ceasefire.
Mediators in Doha are working closely with both sides to reinforce the fragile truce and ease the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.
Their efforts seek to pave the way for broader reconciliation and stability in a region plagued by decades of violence and displacement.
The diplomat, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the talks, said both parties are committed to resolving remaining obstacles.
Eastern DRC has been engulfed in bloodshed for over 30 years, with armed groups vying for control of its mineral-rich lands.
The M23, the most powerful among them, launched a major offensive earlier this year, seizing territory including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu.
Despite Kigali’s denials, UN experts have found Rwanda’s army played a “critical” role in the M23 advance, even taking part in combat.
The conflict has killed thousands and uprooted hundreds of thousands, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the Great Lakes region.
Diplomats and mediators hope the current dialogue will mark a turning point in efforts to bring durable peace to eastern Congo.
