Kinshasa: Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for a state visit, receiving an official welcome ceremony in Kinshasa. This visit comes shortly after the DRC signed a peace agreement in Doha with the M23 rebel movement.

According to Anadolu Agency, the emir landed at N'Djili International Airport and was greeted by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi. Sheikh Tamim's itinerary included travel from Rwanda, a nation accused by Congolese authorities of supporting the M23 rebels.

The emir previously met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali to discuss bilateral ties and various regional and international issues. This meeting was part of Sheikh Tamim's diplomatic efforts in the region.

Recently, the DRC and the M23 movement signed a framework peace agreement in Doha. This deal aims to halt ongoing fighting in eastern Congo, which has resulted in thousands of civilian casualties and the displacement of hundreds of thousands this year.

This agreement is a component of broader mediation efforts led by Qatar, with support from the US, to resolve the long-standing conflict in eastern Congo. This conflict has the potential to escalate into a wider regional war.

The M23 movement has increased its control over strategic areas in eastern DRC since the beginning of the year. Accusations persist from Kinshasa that Rwanda is providing direct support to the rebels, a claim that Kigali denies. The M23 emerged after the collapse of a 2009 peace agreement, with most of its fighters originating from the Tutsi community, the same ethnic group as President Kagame.