DRC and M23 rebels to hold first direct talks in Doha on April 9

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the M23 rebel group are preparing for direct negotiations on April 9 in Doha, marking a potential breakthrough in efforts to end one of the region's most intense conflicts in decades.

According to Reuters, sources from both camps confirmed the planned meeting on Tuesday, describing it as a crucial step in Qatar’s mediation efforts.

If held as scheduled, this would be the first time the two sides sit down for face-to-face talks since M23 fighters launched an aggressive campaign in eastern Congo, capturing major cities and displacing hundreds of thousands of people.

The conflict has led to numerous deaths and heightened instability in the region.

A Congolese official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that discussions were planned for April 9, adding, "unless the other side misbehaves."

A source from M23 confirmed the date, saying the rebel group would use the meeting to present its demands to Kinshasa.

Both parties have agreed not to disclose the details of the negotiations publicly, the sources said as reported by Reuters.

The diplomatic push comes after Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame held a surprise meeting in Doha on March 18.

Qatar later hosted a second round of discussions between the two nations, engaging separately with M23 representatives. However, Kinshasa and M23 have yet to meet directly.

Rwanda has repeatedly denied supporting M23, maintaining that its military operations in the region are acts of self-defense against Congolese forces and militias hostile to Kigali.

The ongoing conflict, rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the struggle for control over the region’s vast mineral wealth, has long fueled tensions along the borders of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

M23 has consistently pushed for direct talks with the Congolese government, but Tshisekedi had previously rejected the demand, arguing that the rebel group was merely a proxy for Rwanda.

However, after suffering a series of battlefield setbacks, Tshisekedi reversed his stance last month and agreed to send representatives to negotiations in Luanda, Angola.

Those talks, however, collapsed before they could begin, as M23 withdrew following the European Union’s imposition of sanctions on the rebel group.

As anticipation builds for the upcoming meeting in Doha, all eyes will be on whether both sides remain committed to dialogue or if unresolved tensions will derail the peace process once again.