The long-running talks between the M23 rebel group and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have reportedly come to a halt due to disagreements between both sides.
Since the beginning of this month, both parties had been meeting in an effort to resolve the conflict that has lasted over three years.
These talks were facilitated by the Qatari monarchy, which had previously hosted a meeting in Doha between President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi of DRC and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
Delegates from both the rebel group and the Congolese government had spent three weeks in Qatar’s capital before leaving just hours ago.
So far, no official statement has been released about the discussions or any agreements reached.
According to Jeune Afrique, the talks yielded no tangible results because of persistent disagreements.
One of the main sticking points, the outlet reports, was the issue of releasing M23 members imprisoned by the Congolese government.
While Kinshasa recently freed five detainees when M23 withdrew its troops from Walikale, the group rejected this gesture, claiming those released were not on their official list of prisoners.
Currently, M23 has submitted a list of around 700 individuals — including soldiers and politicians — allegedly held unlawfully by Kinshasa, to Qatar as part of their demands.
Among those listed are also individuals arrested for their alleged association with Christophe Baseane Nangaa, the former governor of Haut-Uelé and brother to Corneille Nangaa, head of the Alliance Fleuve Congo coalition that includes M23.
