Luanda: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group will engage in direct peace negotiations starting March 18 in Luanda, Angola, according to an official statement from Angola’s presidency on Wednesday.
The announcement follows a recent discussion between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and his Angolan counterpart João Lourenço, aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. Despite previous mediation efforts by Angola, earlier peace talks have failed to bring an end to hostilities between M23 fighters and the Congolese army.
In January, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels launched a rapid offensive, moving dangerously close to the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu. Tshisekedi had previously dismissed any possibility of talks with the group, but on Tuesday, Angola confirmed that both parties had agreed to enter negotiations.
M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa reacted to the development on X, describing the negotiations as a forced move by Tshisekedi and calling them “the only civilized option to resolve the current crisis.”
The ongoing conflict has reportedly led to the deaths of more than 7,000 people since the beginning of 2024, according to the DRC government.
While Rwanda continues to deny providing military support to M23, a UN expert report states that Kigali has stationed around 4,000 troops in eastern DRC to back the rebels. The report also alleges that Rwanda exerts control over M23 to exploit the region’s rich mineral resources, including gold and coltan.
Rwanda, in its defense, argues that its involvement stems from the presence of the FDLR, an armed group with links to Hutu extremists responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi.
