LUANDA, Angola —Angola has announced plans to facilitate direct negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the M23 rebel group, which is reportedly backed by Rwanda. This initiative aims to address the escalating conflict in eastern DRC that has led to severe humanitarian crises and regional instability.
The announcement followed a meeting in Luanda between Angolan President João Lourenço and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi. Angola’s presidency stated that it would establish contacts with the M23 to enable direct talks with the DRC government in the coming days.
Historically, the DRC government has been reluctant to engage directly with the M23 rebels, labeling them as a terrorist organization and accusing them of acting as proxies for foreign interests, particularly Rwanda. The M23, predominantly composed of Tutsi fighters, has been active in eastern DRC, seizing territories and exacerbating tensions rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The conflict intensified in January 2025 when M23 rebels captured Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC, and subsequently advanced into South Kivu province, seizing its capital, Bukavu. These offensives have displaced over 400,000 people, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Angola’s mediation efforts mark a shift from previous attempts that primarily focused on engaging Rwanda without direct involvement of the M23. The success of these forthcoming talks is uncertain, given the DRC government’s prior stance against negotiating with the rebel group.
The international community has expressed concern over the escalating violence. The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2773 on February 21, 2025, condemning the M23’s offensives and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The resolution also urged Rwanda to withdraw its support for the M23 and called on both the DRC and Rwanda to resume peace negotiations.
As Angola prepares to host these direct talks, regional and international stakeholders are hopeful that this initiative will pave the way for a sustainable peace process, addressing both the immediate security concerns and the underlying issues fueling the conflict in eastern DRC.
