Congo Weighs Participation in Peace Talks with M23 Rebels as Angola Leads Mediation Effort

The Democratic Republic of Congo is considering sending representatives to peace talks with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, which Angola is set to host next week. The rebels have outlined their demands to the mediation team. Angola has been working to facilitate a lasting ceasefire and reduce tensions between Congo and Rwanda, which has been accused of supporting the Tutsi-led M23 rebels, although Rwanda denies these allegations.
Angola’s presidency announced that direct talks between Congo and M23 will begin in Luanda on Tuesday, marking the first such negotiations between the two sides. President Felix Tshisekedi has previously opposed direct talks with M23, and the government has not officially confirmed its participation.
Tshisekedi expressed his support for Angola’s efforts in a statement, emphasizing the importance of turning any decisions from the talks into concrete actions on the ground.
Sources indicated that Congo is seriously considering the latest proposal from Angola. While the talks are expected to be brief, their duration will depend on the president’s decision regarding the government’s representatives. It was also noted that direct engagement with M23 does not absolve Rwanda of its responsibilities.
M23 has welcomed Angola’s initiative but has called on Tshisekedi to publicly commit to direct negotiations. The rebels have also requested a mediation team and clarity on how the resolutions from a recent summit of Eastern and Southern African countries would be implemented.
In related developments, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced that its mission in Congo, SAMIDRC, will undergo a phased withdrawal following a summit of regional leaders. This decision represents a setback for Tshisekedi, who has faced criticism over his handling of the M23’s advances. SADC deployed its mission in December 2023 to support Congo’s government in combating rebel groups. However, the status of the mission had been under review.
Since January, M23 has seized Congo’s two largest cities in the east, escalating a conflict rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the competition for control of Congo’s vast mineral resources.
As the church, we are called to pray for these peace talks to proceed and bring about a long-overdue ceasefire. Let us lift the leaders and mediators involved, asking for wisdom, guidance, and a lasting resolution to the conflict. Let us continue to declare that God’s peace will prevail, and that the people of Congo experience the restoration and healing they need.