Angola officially invites M23 for negotiations with DRC
While the group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, stated on Friday that its representatives would attend the meeting, it has not yet confirmed who will be engaging with the DRC government in what will be their first-ever direct talks.
The M23 armed group has received an official invitation to next week’s negotiations with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as called by Angola’s President João Lourenço.
"Following the instructions of João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, and in light of the recent efforts made in his capacity as the mediator designated by the African Union to restore peace and security in the east of the DRC, Angola is pleased to invite you to participate in direct negotiations with the Government of the DRC, scheduled for March 18, 2025, in Luanda, Republic of Angola.
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"Awaiting a favourable response from you, please accept my best regards," the letter, signed by Angolan Minister for External Affairs Tete Antonio, reads.
The invitation, which is part of the Luanda Process under Angola’s mediation, comes a day after the armed group—currently occupying major sections of eastern DRC after overrunning the region’s cities, Goma and Bukavu—accepted Angola’s offer for mediation between them and the DRC government.
The talks are set to commence on Tuesday.
While the group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, stated on Friday that its representatives would attend the meeting, it has not yet confirmed who will be engaging with the DRC government in what will be their first-ever direct talks.
Kanyuka, however, called for a few clarifications regarding the DRC’s involvement, citing its past declarations that it would not engage with them in negotiations. Among these, he requested a direct, public commitment from President Félix Tshisekedi to engage in talks.
The group further insists that the Luanda mediation team formally involve all stakeholders in the initiative and clearly state its terms of reference, adding that, in their view, no military solution can effectively address the root causes of the conflicts ravaging the country.
Additionally, the group is seeking clarification on the implementation of the resolutions adopted at the joint East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State summit held in Dar es Salaam on February 8.
At the same time, Angola, which currently holds the chairmanship of the African Union (AU), has called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern DRC, effective from midnight on Sunday, March 16.
The announcement, made via the Angolan press agency, demands the cessation of all hostilities, including attacks against civilians and the seizure of new positions, to create a climate conducive to direct negotiations between the Congolese government and M23, scheduled for March 18 in Luanda.
Meanwhile, EAC Foreign Ministers convened in Nairobi to discuss the situation in eastern DRC ahead of a joint EAC-SADC Ministerial summit in Harare on Monday.
The meeting, attended by both the DRC and Rwandan foreign ministers, resolved to act with urgency to restore peace and security in the region and deliberated on the roadmap to facilitate political dialogue under the merged Luanda/Nairobi process.
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