Dr. Congo and Rwanda are calling for termination of fire in conflict with the rebels m23

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tota and his round by Rwanda Paul Pape Kagame called for “immediate cessation” in East Congo after having a direct alter in Qatar.

This is the first time two leaders met after the Rwanda -supported rebels M23 strengthened the offensive in the region, where authorities claim that 7,000 people were killed since January.

It is unclear whether the M23 will comply with the ghostly appeal after the rebels refused to attend peace talks in Angola on Tuesday.

C Congo accuses Rwanda of arming the M23 and sends troops to support the rebels in the conflict. Despite allegations from both the UN and the US, Rwanda denied supporting the M23.

Rwanda said his forces were acting in self-defense against the army of Dr. Congo and the Allied militias. C Congo also accuses Rwanda of illegal use of its mineral deposits in the eastern part of the country, which Rwanda also denies.

Last December, the peace talks, mediated by Angola, collapsed after Rwanda demanded the government of D -C Congo to talk directly to the M23.

The rebel group then advanced quickly, taking control of two key cities – Goma and Bukav – in the last two months.

According to a joint statement, published by the Foreign Ministry of Qatar on Tuesday, the two African presidents confirm their commitment to “immediate and unconditional” cessation of fire, but it was not clear how it would be applied or monitored.

“Then the heads of state agreed on the need to continue discussions initiated at Doha to establish solid foundations for lasting peace,” she added.

The meeting surprised many as the two leaders seemed uncompromising about the conflict, which often exchange Barba in public.

While confirming the conversations in the Qatari capital, Rwanda’s presidency insists in a separate statement that direct conversations Between the Congo and the M23 were “key to dealing with the root causes of the conflict.”

President Kagame expressed his belief that with “all countries that work together, things can move on faster.”

Presidential Dr. Congo Salama’s spokesman told X that the conversations had started by Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al -Thani, describing the nation in the Persian Gulf as a “strategic ally of the two (African) countries”.

In a presidential statement, the Congoan government said the meeting marked the first step towards the base of lasting peace in the variable East, hinting at more conversations.

The meeting of the two leaders came as a previous attempt to gather the government of D -C Congo and the M23 Peacers’ rebels failed. The rebels withdrew on Monday after the European Union declared sanctions against their leadership.