Angola

Angola Set to Host Peace Talks Between DRC, M23 Next Week

MAR 14 2025·Updated MAR 15 2025

Story

Above: Congolese Pres. Félix Tshisekedi speaks with his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, during his first presidential visit to Luanda, Angola, on Feb. 5, 2019. Image credit: Stringer/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

Angola's Pres. João Lourenço said in a statement on Wednesday that the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the anti-government March 23 Movement (M23) armed group would begin direct negotiations next Tuesday in Luanda on ending the conflict in eastern DRC.
Al Jazeera
ap
Neither side has officially confirmed whether they will participate in the talks as expected. Government sources told Reuters that Kinshasa is still considering sending a delegation, while M23 issued a statement on Thursday listing demands for dialogue.
Al Jazeera
Reuters
This comes as Congolese Pres. Félix Tshisekedi visited Luanda earlier this week to discuss the conflict that has left thousands dead in the mineral-rich eastern DRC and potential direct talks with the armed group that seized several key cities, such as Goma and Bukavu, with alleged support from Rwanda.
ap
RT International
Two peace initiatives, the Luanda Process and the Nairobi Process, have been stalled for three months and about two years, respectively, as Congo has long refused to engage with the M23 amid claims that the group is a proxy for Rwandan interests.
Critical Threats
XINHUA
In a virtual summit on Thursday, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) confirmed a phased withdrawal of its troops from eastern DRC. No reason has been given, but this comes as soldiers have been confined to their bases in Goma since rebels captured the provincial capital of North Kivu in January.
Africa News
BBC News
Critical Threats
As fighting continues, M23 has consolidated its control over Masisi in central North Kivu and further advanced toward the town of Walikale in western North Kivu and southward in South Kivu. According to an unverified report, dozens of M23-aligned rebels were ambushed and killed by the Congolese armed forces on Thursday west of Minembwe.
Critical Threats

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

M23 rebels have always wanted to handle the decades-long crisis affecting eastern Congo through dialogue, but Kinshasa for too long insisted on excluding the legitimate movement from previous rounds of negotiations. Now, there's hope that the two sides will finally hold direct talks and bring this conflict to an end.

The New Times

Narrative B

It's hard to be optimistic about negotiations on the conflict in eastern Congo as previous attempts to reach peace through dialogue have failed because Rwanda and its M23 proxy typically agree to — or even unilaterally declare — a cease-fire and continue to advance. As it stands, only international sanctions can force this conflict to end.

The Conversation