DR Congo Angola announces negotiations between Congo's government and M23
According to information from Angola, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to early peace talks with the Rwandan-backed militia M23. Angola now wants to make contact with the militia as a mediator.
12.03.2025, 02:13
SDA
Following a visit by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, the Angolan presidential office announced on Tuesday that Angola would make contact with M23 so that delegations from both sides "can hold direct negotiations on a final peace agreement in Luanda in the coming days".
A spokesperson for Tshisekedi later explained in the online service X that the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo was taking note of the statements and would "await the implementation of this approach by the Angolan mediation".
Peace talks had never gotten off the ground because Tshisekedi had repeatedly rejected a dialog with the M23. Angola's President João Lourenço has now apparently been able to change his mind.
M23 supported by Rwanda according to the UN
Since January, the M23 militia, supported by Rwandan soldiers, had taken over large areas in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu. According to Congolese figures, more than 7,000 people have been killed in the fighting since the beginning of the year. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.
According to the UN, Rwanda is supporting the M23 militia with around 4,000 soldiers. The Congolese government accuses the neighboring country of wanting to exploit the mineral resources of the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu. Rwanda denies this.
