Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement released late on Saturday night, said the two leaders reviewed the evolving situation in Africa, with particular emphasis on diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the protracted conflict in eastern DRC.
The talks also focused on enhancing cooperation between Qatar and the AU in promoting peace and regional stability across the continent.
Chairperson Youssouf commended Qatar's growing role in supporting African peace initiatives, especially its mediation efforts in the Great Lakes Region, where tensions between Rwanda and the DRC have persisted despite multiple peace attempts.
Qatar has taken a leading role in efforts to restore peace in the Great Lakes Region. Talks between the DRC government and the AFC/M23 rebel group, which says it's fighting for the rights of marginalised Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in the eastern DRC, are being held in Qatar.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of aiding M23 hostilities in the eastern DRC. Rwanda has repeatedly dismissed the claims, insisting that its primary concern is the continued presence and collaboration between Congolese forces and the FDLR militia group. The group, linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, continues to pose a security threat on the border with Congo, fueling the conflict between Rwanda and the DRC.
Meanwhile, the African Union has also taken a central role in the region's peace efforts following the early 2025 decision by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to merge the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes into a unified framework. This unified initiative, coordinated by the AU, aims to streamline regional mediation efforts.
Togo is currently guiding the final stages of this mediation process, in coordination with a panel of distinguished African leaders who were appointed as facilitators of the process earlier this year. The leaders include former presidents Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Kgalema Motlanthe (South Africa), Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic), and Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia).
The international community has also increased its engagement. In May, U.S. Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, announced that Washington had presented a draft peace agreement to the leaders of Rwanda and the DRC for their review.
A historic ceremony is scheduled for June at the White House, where Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi are expected to formally sign the peace accord in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/politics-48/article/au-chairperson-qatari-pm-discuss-rwanda-drc-peace-efforts
