Congo, M23 To Return To Qatar For Peace Talks

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Congo's government and M23 rebels said yesterday they would send delegations back to Qatar for peace talks, as Washington pushes for an end to fighting that could help unlock billions in mining investments.
US President Donald Trump's administration is trying to broker a peace deal between Rwanda and Congo that would bring billions of dollars of Western investment to the region.
Qatar is hosting a separate but parallel mediation effort with delegations from the Democratic Republic of Congo government and M23.
Last week the Rwandan and Congolese foreign ministers signed a peace accord in Washington, pledging to implement a 2024 deal that would see Rwandan troops withdraw from eastern Congo within 90 days.
The top diplomats also met with Trump, who invited Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame to Washington to sign a package of deals that, dubbed the“Washington Accord”.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Massad Boulos, Trump's senior adviser for Africa, said the Trump administration would“love” to hold that meeting at the end of July. But he also said US officials hope to have a deal in Doha finalised by then.
At a press conference yesterday, an M23 official said rebel delegates would return to Doha but accused Kinshasa of not taking the process seriously.
“Since the signing of the Washington agreement, we have been contacted three times by the Qatari mediator to resume dialogue,” said Benjamin Mbonimpa, one of the M23 delegates who has taken part in the Doha dialogue.
Congo's presidency said in a statement to Reuters that government delegates were also returning to Doha.
The latest report by a panel of United Nations experts said Rwanda has exercised command and control over M23 during their advance.

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