The M23 armed group, which has taken control of large areas in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), announced on Monday that it was sending a delegation to Angola for peace talks with the Congolese government.
The negotiations are set to begin Tuesday in Luanda, the capital of Angola, where the African Union has appointed President João Lourenço to mediate the conflict.
Lourenço’s office previously stated that it was facilitating “direct dialogue” between the Rwandan-backed M23 and Kinshasa’s leadership.
“A delegation of five people” was en route to Luanda on Monday “for direct talks, at the request of the Angolan authorities,” M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka said on X. However, he did not disclose the names of those participating.
On Sunday evening, Tina Salama, spokeswoman for Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, confirmed that Kinshasa would also send a delegation to Luanda on Tuesday “at the invitation of the mediator to hear what they have to say.”
She did not specify who would be in the delegation or whether direct talks with M23 would take place. So far, Kinshasa has refused to negotiate directly with the rebel group.
The DRC government has issued bounties for the capture of several leaders of M23 and the Congo River Alliance (AFC), a political-military coalition that includes M23.
Since January, M23 has seized Goma and Bukavu, the largest cities in North and South Kivu, two resource-rich provinces near the Rwandan border.
United Nations experts estimate that around 4,000 Rwandan troops are backing M23 militarily.
