Four sources told Reuters that Qatar hosted, on Friday, a second round of negotiations between the Democratic Congo and Rwanda.
The sources reported that Qatari officials met separately with representatives of the rebels supported by Rwanda, who have controlled several areas in the eastern Democratic Congo.
Reuters quoted two government sources from the Republic of the Congo as saying that the Qatari mediators had joint talks between Congolese officials and Rwandans, while they held individual meetings with representatives of the rebels.
The State of Qatar had started mediation between the conflicting parties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, met with the heads of Rwanda and the Congo in the first direct talks between them since the outbreak of the new conflict at the end of last January.
After the tripartite meeting in Doha on March 19, the leaders issued a joint statement declaring their commitment to the immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
According to a joint statement, Rwanda and Congo Presidents expressed their thanks to the State of Qatar and its Emir for organizing this fruitful meeting, which contributed to building confidence between the two countries, and confirmed the joint commitment to a safe and stable future of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region.
The Qatari mediation aimed at achieving peace in the region was widely welcomed, as the Secretary -General of the United Nations praised the efforts made by Doha to achieve stability in African countries.
The African Union also expressed its support and welcome to the mediation of Qatar, stressing that it will contribute to achieving peace through diplomacy and dialogue.
In conjunction with the mediation that Qatar is playing, Angolan President Joao Lorenso announced the withdrawal of his country from its role as a mediator in the peace process, related to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Angola said it prefers to focus its efforts on its current presidency of the African Union, a position that requires widespread attention to continental and international issues.
The conflict in the eastern Congo is due to the competition for mineral wealth.
The conflict has escalated since last January, when thousands of people were killed, and hundreds of thousands were forced to go out of their homes.
(Tagstotranslate) News (T) Africa (T) Congo (Zaire)