On Tuesday, the presidents of Congo and Rwanda engaged in their first direct talks in Qatar, following a period of heightened tensions and violence in eastern Congo. This meeting came after the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels captured two significant cities in the mineral-rich region of eastern Congo earlier this year, further exacerbating the ongoing conflict between the two neighbouring nations.

The discussions were a critical moment, following the collapse of a previous attempt to bring Congo’s government and M23 leaders together for ceasefire negotiations. The earlier peace talks had failed after the European Union imposed sanctions on the M23 leaders, prompting the rebels to withdraw from the negotiation table.

The situation in eastern Congo had escalated dramatically at the start of the year, when the M23 rebels advanced into the region, seizing control of the strategically important city of Goma in January. This was followed by their capture of Bukavu in February, further deepening the humanitarian crisis and inflaming tensions between the two countries.

As the region remains volatile, the outcome of this dialogue between the presidents is seen as a crucial step toward understanding the broader dynamics of the conflict and working towards a resolution. The international community will be closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a de-escalation in hostilities and the establishment of lasting peace in the region.

Al Jazeera