A lecture previously rejected by the DRC seeks to resolve a spiral conflict in the eastern part of the country.
The Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group and the Congolese government have confirmed that they will participate in peace negotiations in Angola.
A spokesman for M23 said on Monday that the delegation had been sent to Angola’s capital, Luanda. Rebel groups have acquired a key eastern region rich in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) minerals in a massive attack that has killed thousands since the beginning of this year.
The delegation representing the DRC is currently in Luanda for a speech Tuesday, a spokesman for President Felix Tsushisekedi told the Associated Press. Tshisekedi previously refused to negotiate directly with rebel groups over the conflict.
M23 also sent a delegation to Luanda, spokesman Lawrence Cannuca said in X.
Angola has been trying to mediate a ceasefire for months. Peace negotiations were cancelled late last year after Rwanda insisted on a direct dialogue between the DRC and the M23.
However, Luanda announced last week that it would hold in-person peace negotiations.
M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa declared last week that the rebels forced Tshisekedi to the negotiation table, saying, “Peace begins with dialogue. The sooner we talk, the sooner we talk, the sooner peace becomes reality.”
Humanitarian crisis
The conflict in the Eastern DRC escalated earlier this year when M23 rebels carried out a lightning strike and seized strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu.
The M23 is one of around 100 armed groups competing for the scaffolding of the mineral-rich eastern DRC near the border with Rwanda. The conflict has created one of the world’s most important humanitarian crises.
Over 7 million people have been evacuated, but 7,000 have reportedly died since the beginning of this year.
According to the United Nations, the M23 is supported by around 4,000 soldiers from Rwanda and has previously promised to march into the DRC capital, Kinshasa.
Rwanda says its forces are acting in self-defense against the Congolese forces and militias that oppose Kigali.
The conflict that has devastated the Eastern DRC for decades is rooted in Rwanda’s 1994 spillover into the nation of genocide, and its struggle for control of its vast mineral resources.
The UN Human Rights Council has launched a committee to investigate atrocities, including allegations of rape and murders similar to “summary executions” by both parties.
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