The presidents of Congo and neighboring Rwanda have met in Qatar for their first direct talks since Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized two major cities in mineral-rich eastern Congo earlier this year.

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame met in Qatar on Tuesday for their first direct talks since M23 rebels stepped up an offensive in east Congo in January,

Belgium, Rwanda’s former colonial ruler, pushed for the European Union to impose sanction against Rwandan officials over their role in invading eastern Congo and plundering its mineral wealth.

A major peace meeting aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has collapsed before it even began. Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have been at the center of violent clashes in eastern Congo,

The AFC/M23 rebels have confirmed that they are sending a delegation of five members to Luanda, Angola for direct negotiations with the DR Congo government, scheduled for Tuesday, March 18.

The rebel alliance, of which M23 is a member, says it was withdrawing from what could have been the two sides’ first direct negotiations because of sanctions imposed against M23 and Rwandan officials