Angolan President João Lourenço, acting as mediator in the conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group, has called for an immediate ceasefire ahead of peace talks set to begin in Luanda.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Lourenço urged all parties to halt hostilities in eastern DR Congo from midnight on March 16, 2025. The statement emphasized that the ceasefire should include an end to attacks on civilians and any further territorial advances by warring factions.
“This ceasefire should include all possible hostile actions against the civilian population as well as the conquest of new positions in the conflict zone,” the Angolan presidency said, adding that the move is intended to create a conducive atmosphere for peace negotiations.
Despite previously refusing to engage directly with M23, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi recently visited Luanda, after which it was announced that “direct peace negotiations” between his government and the rebel group would begin on Tuesday.
Since January, the M23, reportedly backed by around 4,000 Rwandan soldiers, has made significant territorial gains, seizing control of key cities in eastern DR Congo, including Goma and Bukavu. The mineral-rich region, near the Rwandan border, has long been at the center of tensions.
With Angola hosting the upcoming negotiations, there is cautious optimism that the ceasefire could be a step toward de-escalating the ongoing crisis.
