DRC and M23 Rebels to Begin Peace Talks in Angola on March 18

The negotiations, mediated by Angola, aim to address a conflict that has displaced millions and claimed thousands of lives in the mineral-rich region.

• Angola will host direct peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the M23 rebel group in Luanda starting March 18.
• The conflict escalated in January 2025, with M23 seizing key cities in eastern Congo, including Goma and Bukavu, and advancing toward Kinshasa.
• The DRC accuses Rwanda of backing M23, a claim Rwanda denies, while the conflict is rooted in regional tensions and competition over the DRC's vast mineral wealth.
• The violence has created a severe humanitarian crisis, with over 7,000 deaths reported since January and nearly 80,000 people fleeing the country, according to the UN.
• The DRC government is also seeking international support, offering access to its critical mineral reserves in exchange for security assistance from the United States.

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