DOHA- The Democratic Republic of the Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame have held direct talks for the first time since Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized two major cities in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a joint statement issued with Qatar, whose Emir mediated the talks in Doha, the countries called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and they agreed on the need to continue the discussions initiated in Doha in order to establish solid foundations for lasting peace.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused Rwanda of sending weapons and troops to support the M23 rebels, which Rwanda has denied.
The talks came after M23 representatives pulled out of a planned meeting with the Democratic Republic of Congo government in Angola yesterday after the European Union imposed sanctions on some of the group’s senior members, including leader Bertrand Bisimwa.
The European Union also sanctioned three Rwandan military commanders and the country’s mining agency chief over support for the M23 fighters.
