DOHA/LUANDA - Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda met here on Tuesday during a sit-down mediated by Qatar, during which they voiced support for a ceasefire in the eastern DRC.

According to a joint statement released by Qatar's Foreign Ministry, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended the sit-down.

The statement said the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire as agreed at a February summit held in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam, and further agreed on the need to continue discussions initiated in Doha to establish a solid foundation for lasting peace.

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Fighting between the DRC government and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group has intensified in recent months as M23 launched major offensives in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, capturing several key towns.

The ongoing violence has displaced thousands, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the eastern DRC.

The M23 called earlier on Tshisekedi to make an unequivocal public declaration committing to direct negotiations. The DRC government has consistently considered it a red line to sit at the same negotiation table with the rebels.

Meanwhile, the DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23. Rwanda said the DRC military has allied with the Rwandan rebel group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which was allegedly involved in the 1994 genocide.

Peace talks between the DRC and the M23, originally set for Tuesday, were called off due to "reasons and circumstances of force majeure," the Angolan Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday.

READ MORE: UN chief urges efforts to end crisis in eastern DRC

In the statement, Angola also pledged to push for the talks, reaffirming dialogue as the only path to lasting peace in the eastern DRC.

The Angolan Presidency insisted on Monday that the talks would proceed "as scheduled," despite the M23's withdrawal earlier. The rebel group accused "certain international institutions" of deliberately obstructing peace efforts and undermining negotiations.

"Successive sanctions imposed on our members, including those announced on the eve of the Luanda discussions, make direct dialogue impossible," the M23 said, referring to the European Union (EU)'s sanctions issued Monday targeting M23 leaders, including political chief Bertrand Bisimwa, and Rwandan military commanders.

Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), a politico-military group allied with the M23, said the EU's move reflected a "double standard," forcing the AFC to reconsider its participation in the talks until further notice.

READ MORE: Eastern DR Congo rebel alliance declares ceasefire starting on Feb 4

In its situation update issued Monday, the United Nations Children's Fund warned that 1 million people, including around 400,000 children, were newly displaced since late January 2025, with figures likely to rise further as hostilities continue in both South Kivu and North Kivu.