Congo-M23 Peace Negotiations Postponed in Doha

Peace talks between Congo’s government and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels planned for Wednesday in Doha have been postponed.

The parties had earlier billed the meeting as the first direct talks since M23 fighters captured eastern Congo’s two largest cities.

The rapid offensive has left thousands dead, forced hundreds of thousands more from their homes and raised fears of a wider regional conflict.

A Congolese official said, “It was unclear why the meeting was delayed. Both sides said invitations had not been sent as of Monday.”

In March, Qatar brokered a surprise sit-down between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, during which the two leaders called for a ceasefire.

The United Nations and Western governments said Rwanda has provided arms and troops to the ethnic Tutsi-led M23.

Rwanda has denied backing M23 and says its military has acted in self-defence against Congo’s army and a militia founded by perpetrators of the 1994 genocide.

The conflict is rooted in the long fallout from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and competition for control of mineral riches. The armies of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi have all participated in the fighting, raising fears of an all-out regional war.

M23 had long demanded direct negotiations with Kinshasa, but Tshisekedi had refused, arguing that M23 was merely a front for Rwanda.