Angola, has announced that the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will hold direct peace talks with the M23 rebel movement, which is backed by Rwanda, next Tuesday in the capital, Luanda.

This initiative follows the escalation of violence in eastern DRC, where M23 rebels have seized strategic areas, including the mineral-rich cities of Goma and Bukavu.

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi recently visited Luanda to discuss launching the peace process. In a statement issued by the Angolan presidency, it was confirmed that “direct peace negotiations” between the two parties will commence in Luanda.

Previous peace efforts mainly targeted Rwanda, the alleged backer of the M23 rebels, without directly involving the movement itself, leading to unsuccessful attempts at resolving the crisis. The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC has displaced over 7 million people, creating a severe humanitarian crisis.