Kinshasa: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is preparing to send a delegation to Angola on Tuesday for negotiations aimed at addressing the worsening conflict with M23 rebels, the Congolese presidency announced on Sunday.
The peace talks, scheduled to take place in Luanda on March 18, were proposed by Angola as part of its ongoing mediation efforts. While Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has historically refused to engage in direct dialogue with M23, recent military setbacks and diminishing regional support appear to be influencing a possible shift in his stance.
Presidency spokesperson Tina Salama stated that the composition of the delegation has yet to be determined. Meanwhile, M23 acknowledged receiving Angola’s invitation but has not confirmed its participation. The rebel group has set several conditions for the talks, including a demand for Tshisekedi to publicly declare his willingness to negotiate directly.
Angolan President João Lourenço has been working to broker a ceasefire and reduce tensions between Congo and neighboring Rwanda, which has been accused of supporting M23—a claim Rwanda denies.
The conflict in eastern Congo has deep historical roots, linked to the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the battle for control over Congo’s rich mineral resources. The situation has dramatically worsened this year, with M23 seizing new territory, including major cities and numerous smaller localities.
Since January, the Congolese government estimates that at least 7,000 people have been killed in the violence, while the United Nations reports that over 600,000 people have been displaced since November.
On Saturday, President Lourenço called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to facilitate the peace process. "The ceasefire must include all forms of violence against civilians and the occupation of new territories," he said in a statement.
However, despite the call for peace, fighting reportedly continued on Sunday, with local officials confirming clashes in the Walikale region. Both the Congolese government and M23 have previously accused each other of violating ceasefires.
