Rwandese President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi have been commended for their commitment to the mediation process of the Eastern Congo conflict following a meeting in Doha on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

In a press release dated Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahamoud Ali Youssouf lauded the meeting convened and mediated by Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, as effforts to end the conflict in Eastern Congo near the border with Rwanda goes on.

In his remarks, Youssouf expressed confidence with the outcome of the meeting, terming the presence of the two leaders as testament to their commitment for lasting solutions to the impasse.

Peaceful resolution

“The Chairperson commends the Statesmen of the DRC and Rwanda for their commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution of the crisis in Eastern DRC. Their engagement reflects true leadership and a shared recognition that peace, security, and stability are indispensable for the prosperity of their nations and the wider Great Lakes region,” his statement read.

Youssouf further commended the pair for agreeing to a ceasefire in line with the proposals from earlier summits organized by the African regional bloq of East Africa Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

 “The Chairperson acknowledges the reaffirmation by both leaders of their commitment to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as agreed during the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Dar es Salaam on 8 February 2025,” the statement continued.

The Doha meeting marked the first direct talks since the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized two major cities in mineral-rich Eastern Congo earlier this year, it also comes after Rwanda severed ties with Belgium over the conflict disputes.

The AUC has reiterated its commitment for continuous deliberations, calling for more contributions of other regional blocks and international partners.

“The African Union remains resolute in its support for African-led solutions to African challenges, as embodied in the Luanda and Nairobi processes. The Doha discussions, held in a spirit of constructive engagement, align with these efforts and complement ongoing regional mechanisms. In this regard, we emphasize the importance of continued coordination between the African Union, regional economic communities, and international partners in fostering sustainable peace,” the AUC chair said.

The summit came as a previous attempt to bring Congo’s government and M23 leaders together for ceasefire negotiations failed.

Tshisekedi failed to appear in person for a joint summit held on Saturday, February 8 , 2025 to discuss the ongoing conflict in the region.

Snubbing summits

This development came after the Congo President snubbed another virtual meeting organized by Kenya’s President William Ruto in Cairo, Egypt.

The conflict in Eastern Congo escalated in January when the Rwanda-backed rebels advanced and seized the strategic city of Goma, they later seized Bukavu in February.