This statement was released by Angola's Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the postponement of planned talks between M23 representatives and the DRC government on March 18, 2025, due to "unexpected circumstances."
"The Government of Angola, in its capacity as a mediator, is doing everything possible to ensure that this meeting takes place soon, reaffirming that dialogue is the only path to lasting peace in eastern DRC," the ministry stated.
The postponement occurred after the DRC delegation, led by Transport Minister and former rebel leader of the MLC group, Jean-Pierre Bemba, had already arrived in Angola.
On March 17, M23 had announced that it would no longer participate in the talks due to sanctions imposed by the European Union on five of its top leaders, including its President, Bertrand Bisimwa.
M23 argued that these sanctions reinforced the DRC government's actions aimed at escalating the conflict in the country's eastern region, as they suggested that the international community was discouraging peace talks.
M23 political spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka stated, "Under these circumstances, negotiations are not possible. For this reason, our organization will no longer participate in the discussions."
Meanwhile, on March 18, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, hosted a meeting in Doha with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi to discuss regional security.
The heads of state expressed support for peace initiatives led by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to bring lasting stability to the region, particularly eastern DRC.
They also emphasized that direct talks between M23 and the DRC government should take place soon to address the root causes of the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/angola-moves-to-bring-m23-and-drc-gov-t-back-to-negotiation-table
