Angola 'surprised' by Kagame-Tshisekedi meeting in Doha amid M23 peace efforts
The Angolan Government says the meeting was not part of the agreed peace mediation agenda.
The Angolan Government has expressed surprise over a meeting between Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Doha, Qatar, which it says was not part of the agreed peace mediation agenda.
Angola's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tete Antonio, told reporters on Thursday that the meeting occurred on the same day the Congolese government was scheduled to negotiate with the M23 rebel group in Luanda—talks that ultimately collapsed after M23 pulled out.
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Antonio emphasized Angola's commitment to the Luanda Process, a mediation effort led by Angolan President João Lourenço under the African Union (AU) framework, to resolve tensions between Rwanda and the DRC.
He reiterated the principle of "African solutions to African problems," noting that while external efforts are welcome, mediation must be led by Africans themselves.
African solution
"All efforts to resolve conflicts are welcome, but African problems must have an African resolution," said Antonio, who also serves as Chair of the AU Executive Council.
The Doha meeting, facilitated by Qatari officials, caught Angola—and by extension, the AU—off guard. President Lourenço, who holds the AU's mandate to mediate between Kagame and Tshisekedi, was not informed of the encounter in advance, raising concerns about coordination and coherence in peace efforts.
Tensions remain high in eastern DRC, where M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda—a charge Kigali denies—have seized key territories, prompting regional and international alarm.
Angola, acting as a neutral mediator, has hosted several rounds of peace talks under the Luanda and Nairobi processes, aimed at de-escalating hostilities and facilitating a political settlement.
The surprise meeting in Doha has now stirred questions over whether parallel diplomacy could undermine ongoing AU-led efforts, or serve as a complementary channel for dialogue.
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