Direct Peace Talks Between DRC Government and M23 Rebels Announced in Angola

Angola's mediation efforts bring Kinshasa and M23 rebels to the negotiating table after months of escalating conflict in eastern Congo.

Angola's President João Lourenço, serving as African Union mediator, announced direct peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the M23 rebel group to begin on March 18 in Luanda.
The M23, supported by an estimated 4,000 Rwandan troops according to UN experts, has seized key cities in eastern DRC, including Goma and Bukavu, in a renewed offensive since January 2025.
The conflict has resulted in over 7,000 reported deaths this year, though these figures remain unverified, with Kinshasa accusing Rwanda of exploiting the region's mineral wealth.
Rwanda cites security concerns over the presence of the FDLR, a group linked to perpetrators of the 1994 genocide, along its border with the DRC as a key issue.
Previous diplomatic efforts, including ceasefire calls by regional organizations, have failed, but this marks the first time President Félix Tshisekedi has agreed to engage directly with the M23.