João Manuel

In an effort to create a peaceful environment for the upcoming peace talks, Angolan President João Lourenço, who is currently chair of the African Union, has called for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

According to a statement from the Angolan presidency, the ceasefire must include all hostile actions against civilians and halt any attempts to gain new positions in the conflict zone. The DRC government and the M23 rebels will meet for the first time in three years when the DRC government and the M23 rebels meet in Luanda, Angola, on March 18.

The DRC government has not formally confirmed its participation yet. However, the M23 has urged President Felix Tshisekedi to formally pledge to engage in direct talks and has stated support for Angola’s peace plan.

With the M23 rebels seizing important towns in the provinces of North and South Kivu, the violence has recently intensified, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes and exacerbating the humanitarian situation. Violence between the M23 and the DRC persists despite diplomatic attempts, underscoring the pressing need for communication. {Africannews}