Peace Efforts Stalled: Angola Confirms Cancellation of DRC, M23 Talks

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Angola has announced the cancellation of peace talks between the DRC government and the M23 armed group, which were scheduled for Tuesday in Luanda. The talks aimed to address the ongoing violence in eastern DR Congo but were called off due to unforeseen circumstances, likely referencing the M23’s last-minute decision to withdraw.

Angolan President Joao Lourenco has been designated by the African Union to mediate the conflict, where the M23 has rapidly captured major cities in the region. Angola’s foreign ministry expressed its commitment to facilitating the meeting, emphasising that dialogue is essential for achieving lasting peace in eastern DRC.

The M23 previously declared it would not participate in the talks following EU sanctions imposed on some of its leaders, stating that these measures severely hinder direct communication. The group criticised Kinshasa’s aggressive stance and claimed that, under the current circumstances, discussions were unfeasible.

On Monday, the EU sanctioned three Rwandan military officials and the head of its mining agency due to their support for armed groups in eastern DR Congo and for M23 leaders, including its head, Bertrand Bisimwa.

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Since January, the M23, which claims to represent the interests of Congolese Tutsis, has taken control of Goma and Bukavu, leading to over 7,000 deaths, according to DR Congo estimates. A UN report suggests that Rwanda effectively manages the M23, providing around 4,000 troops to exploit the region’s valuable mineral resources. Rwanda denies these allegations but cites threats from the FDLR group, composed of ethnic Hutu leaders involved in the 1994 genocide. The last negotiations between the Congolese government and the M23 occurred in 2013.