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The Congolese government and the M23 rebel group are set to engage in direct negotiations on April 9 in the capital of Qatar. This will mark the first meeting between the two parties since the Rwanda-backed rebels took control of two eastern Congolese provincial capitals.

Earlier plans for a meeting in Angola on March 18 were thwarted when the M23 rebels withdrew at the last minute due to their opposition to European Union sanctions imposed on their leaders.

Until March, the Congolese government had consistently rejected the idea of direct discussions with the rebels, whom they consider to be a proxy force of Rwanda.

However, in mid-March, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame held an unexpected meeting in Doha. Following this encounter, Qatar hosted separate delegations from the Congolese government and the rebels, as reported by Reuters on Monday.

Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/02/congo-m23-rebels-to-hold-direct-dialogue-in-qatar/