Luanda: Angola announced on Tuesday its plans to mediate direct negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the coming days. The move aims to de-escalate tensions and seek a lasting ceasefire in the volatile eastern region of Congo.
It remains uncertain whether the Congolese government, which has consistently refused to engage in dialogue with M23, will participate in the talks. Congo’s presidential spokesperson told Reuters that authorities had taken note of the initiative. Meanwhile, an M23 deputy spokesperson welcomed the development, calling it “a victory of reason” and confirming the group’s intention to attend the negotiations.
For years, Angola has been actively involved in efforts to mediate peace in the region, particularly between Congo and Rwanda. Relations between the two neighbors have been strained, with Congo accusing Rwanda of supporting the Tutsi-led M23 rebels—a claim Kigali has repeatedly denied. Rwanda insists that its forces act only in self-defense against the Congolese army and militias hostile to Kigali.
Since January, M23 rebels have seized significant territories in eastern Congo, including its two largest cities in the region. The escalation is part of a protracted conflict rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the ongoing battle for control over Congo’s vast mineral wealth.
Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi recently visited Angola’s capital, Luanda, where he met with President João Lourenço. In a statement posted on Facebook, Angola’s presidency confirmed its role in facilitating direct talks.
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“Angola, as mediator in the conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will establish contacts with the M23, so that delegations from Congo and the M23 can hold direct negotiations in Luanda in the coming days,” the statement read.
The outcome of this initiative remains uncertain, but Angola’s diplomatic efforts could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of peace negotiations in the region.
