The M23 armed group has expressed its willingness to engage in direct negotiations with the Congolese government to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The M23 has been in a protracted battle with the Congolese army in the volatile region, which has long been plagued by violence and ethnic unrest.
Since the group’s resurgence in 2021, it has captured large areas of mineral-rich land in the DRC, with support from Rwanda.
On Tuesday, Angola announced it would facilitate peace talks, with the negotiations set to begin on March 18 in Luanda, the Angolan capital.
In a statement issued on Thursday, March 13, 2025, the M23 welcomed the news, seeing it as a positive step towards resolving the conflict.
However, the group raised concerns and urged Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi to publicly commit to direct negotiations, describing it as an essential prerequisite for peace.
Tshisekedi has previously rejected the idea of talks with the M23, labelling the group as “terrorists.”
Despite Tshisekedi’s reluctance, Angolan President Joao Lourenco confirmed that direct talks would proceed after meeting with Tshisekedi.
Since the start of 2025, the M23 has made significant advances against the Congolese military, with the conflict claiming over 7,000 lives, although this figure has not been independently verified.
Rwanda has denied allegations of military support for the M23, though a UN experts’ report suggests that Rwanda has approximately 4,000 troops stationed in the DRC to assist the group.
