Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo will hold fresh peace talks in Angola on Sunday, aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the DRC’s eastern region. Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who has been appointed as a mediator by the African Union, expressed hope that the summit could lead to a peace agreement.
The violence in eastern DRC escalated following the resurgence of the M23 militia in 2021, a group supported by Kigali and claiming to defend ethnic Tutsis. Since then, the militia has taken control of large areas, displacing thousands and triggering a humanitarian crisis.
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In August, Angola helped broker a fragile ceasefire, but fighting has continued sporadically. Since October, clashes between Rwandan-backed forces and the DRC army have intensified, undermining efforts to stabilise the region.
Both President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC have confirmed their attendance at the summit in Luanda. Despite previous refusals to negotiate with Rwanda, the Congolese president has agreed to engage in talks.
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