By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to send a delegation to Angola on Tuesday for face-to-face talks with the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group, seeking a resolution to the violence in eastern DRC that has killed several people and displaced thousands, the presidency confirmed on Sunday.
“At this stage, we can’t say who will make up the delegation,” presidency spokesperson Tina Salama said, acknowledging DRC’s readiness to negotiate.
This marks a U-turn from the recent past, where DRC President Félix Tshisekedi vowed not to negotiate with the rebels.
His change of position came after a meeting with his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, in the capital, Luanda. His country has suffered territorial losses due to the growing power of M23 amid dwindling regional support.
Southern African forces earlier hinted at leaving the country as the rebels continue to gain ground.
M23 has acknowledged receipt of Angola’s invitation, its spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, said on X on Sunday, without confirming whether it would participate.
M23 made a series of demands after the talks were announced, including asking Tshisekedi to publicly express his commitment to negotiating with them directly.
Angola has made efforts to mediate a lasting ceasefire and de-escalate tensions between Congo and neighbouring Rwanda, which has been accused of offering logistical and financial support to the Tutsi-majority rebel group.
The conflict is rooted in the spillover into Congo of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the struggle for control of Congo’s vast mineral resources.
It escalated significantly this year, with M23 gaining ground it had never controlled before, including eastern Congo’s two biggest cities and several smaller localities.
DRC had offered a $5 million reward for the arrest of the rebel leaders.
The Angolan president on Saturday urged all parties to cease hostilities from midnight to create a conducive climate for the talks.
“The ceasefire must include all possible hostile actions against the civilian population and the occupation of new positions,” he said in a statement.
Both Congo and M23 have repeatedly accused each other of violating ceasefires in the past.
