Doha, Qatar — In a united diplomatic push to resolve the escalating crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), representatives from the United States, France, Rwanda, the DRC, Togo, and Qatar convened in Doha on April 30 to reaffirm their commitment to peace, stability, and regional development in the Great Lakes region.
The high-level meeting follows a trilateral summit on March 18 between the Heads of State of Rwanda, the DRC, and Qatar. It also builds on recent progress from the joint EAC-SADC summit in Tanzania and the signing of the Declaration of Principles in Washington, D.C. on April 25.
U.S. Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos, who represented Washington at the talks, emphasised the situation’s urgency.
“We discussed the critical importance of upholding ceasefire commitments, addressing the root causes of the conflict, and responding to the urgent humanitarian situation in eastern DRC,” Boulos posted on X (formerly Twitter). “We stand firm in our shared commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Great Lakes region.”
The joint statement released by the delegations highlighted the ongoing dialogue between the Congolese government and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23rd (AFC/M23) movement, stressing the importance of continued negotiations. A recent joint declaration between the DRC and the AFC/M23—facilitated by Qatar—was lauded as a key milestone in securing a sustainable ceasefire.
The talks also emphasised the importance of addressing longstanding issues fueling instability. Participants stressed the importance of respecting all nations’ sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The representatives expressed their readiness to contribute to the ongoing efforts that promote mutual trust, sustainable ceasefire, and a peaceful resolution to the conflict, including the efforts by the EAC and SADC under the auspices of the African Union led by His Excellency Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Republic and the African Union’s appointed mediator in this conflict.
Finally, the representatives expressed their appreciation to the State of Qatar for hosting the discussions and reaffirmed their shared commitment to continued dialogue and collective action toward a peaceful and stable future for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region.