The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced on Sunday March 16 that it will send a delegation to Angola on Tuesday March 18 for peace talks aimed at resolving the escalating conflict with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the east of the country. The talks, scheduled to begin in the Angolan capital, Luanda, on March 18, were confirmed by Angola last week.
President Félix Tshisekedi, who has previously ruled out direct dialogue with the M23 group, is reportedly reconsidering his stance after a series of defeats and a decline in regional support for Congo. The details of Congo’s delegation have not been confirmed, as spokesperson Tina Salama stated that it was too early to say who would be included. M23 has acknowledged Angola’s invitation but has not yet clarified whether it will participate. The group has made several demands, including a public commitment from President Tshisekedi to negotiate directly with them.
Angola has been working to mediate a lasting ceasefire and reduce tensions between Congo and its neighbour, Rwanda, which is accused of supporting the Tutsi-led M23 rebels. Rwanda denies the allegations. The conflict, which stems from the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and competition over Congo’s rich mineral resources, has intensified this year, with M23 capturing new territories, including major cities. Over 7,000 people have been killed since January, and more than 600,000 have been displaced, according to the UN. Angolan President João Lourenço has called for an immediate ceasefire to create a peaceful environment for the talks, although fighting reportedly continued on Sunday.