The African Union (AU) has welcomed the peace talks held in Qatar between the leaders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, urging both nations to maintain momentum toward resolving the conflict in eastern DRC.
Qatar made a surprise announcement on Tuesday that it had hosted Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi for discussions on the ongoing crisis. However, the details of a potential ceasefire remain unclear.
African Union Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf commended both leaders for engaging in talks, emphasising that their commitment to dialogue reflects strong leadership and recognition of the need for peace in the Great Lakes region.
“The chairperson commends the statesmen of the DRC and Rwanda for their commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution of the crisis in eastern DRC,” the AU said in a statement issued on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
The AU called on all stakeholders to sustain the diplomatic progress made in Doha and uphold the commitment to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire.”
The peace talks come during heightened violence in eastern DRC, where the M23 armed group has recently launched a rapid offensive, seizing two provincial capitals in just a few weeks.
The AU’s statement signals strong regional support for continued negotiations, though the challenge remains in translating diplomatic discussions into a lasting ceasefire and peace agreement.
