In March, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha hosted a meeting between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame, whereafter both leaders called for a ceasefire. Since then, subsequent talks have been held with the DRC and the M23.

Democratic Republic of Congo’s army accused Rwanda-backed M23 rebels of attacking its positions in the east of the country and threatening peace talks overseen by the US and Qatari governments.

The Congolese government and M23 rebels have missed Monday's deadline to reach a peace agreement in Doha, raising fears that tensions between the two parties might derail talks and reverse progress made to end the conflict.