DR Congo Crisis : Luanda To Host Direct Talks

The Angolan capital Luanda will on March 18, 2025 play host to talks between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel groups. A statement from President Joao Lourenco’s office on Wednesday said the two parties would begin “direct peace negotiations”. On Saturday, Angola's President and current African Union (AU) chair who is mediating the conflict “called on the parties to the conflict to cease hostilities in eastern DRC as of midnight on March 16, 2025,” a statement from his office said. “The immediate ceasefire should include all possible hostile actions against the civilian population as well as the conquest of new positions in the conflict zone, with the expectation that these and other initiatives will lead to the creation of a climate of détente, conducive to the start of peace talks," the Angolan presidency’s text reiterated.
After several months of hesitation, the DRC government has officially confirmed its participation with the sending of a delegation to the talks. Last Tuesday, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi travelled to Angola to discuss the modalities of the direct talks. 
In recent months, fighting between the DRC government and the M23 has intensified, with the rebels launching major offensives in No...