Gaborone, July 26 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has reiterated its support for peace efforts in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during high-profile talks in Botswana aimed at advancing the African Union (AU)-led peace process.

The Gulf state took part in a coordination and planning meeting in Gaborone for the AU Panel of Facilitators and the Independent Joint Secretariat tasked with preparing an implementation plan for the eastern DRC peace process.

The State of Qatar was represented by HE Director of the African Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ali bin Ghanem Al Hajri, alongside HE Saad bin Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and permanent representative to the AU, and HE Abdullah bin Hamad Al Nuaimi, an adviser at the Office of the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Addressing the meeting, HE Al Hajri reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to supporting peace in eastern DRC, saying Doha would continue working with all parties in close coordination with the United States of America and the Togolese Republic, acting as the African Union's mediator, to map out solutions to the conflict.

He outlined progress under the Doha track, including the activation of a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, continued cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross on a detainee exchange mechanism, and ongoing negotiations on the remaining protocols under the Doha framework.

Dr Al Hajri said the peace process was comprehensive and complex, encompassing humanitarian, political, security, economic and social dimensions, and stressed that achieving a durable settlement would require patience, gradual progress and the ownership of all parties involved.

He also underscored the AU's central role in leading mediation efforts, citing its regional legitimacy and ability to engage neighboring states and oversee implementation on the ground. He called for continued coordination among the various mediation tracks and international partners to ensure a unified approach to supporting peace efforts.

Qatar reaffirmed its commitment to working with regional and international partners to help achieve lasting peace, stressing that dialogue remains the only viable path to resolving conflicts and securing long-term stability. (QNA)