M23 Rebels Withdraw from Congo Peace Talks Following EU Sanctions

The Congo government confirms participation in Angola talks despite the absence of the Rwanda-backed rebel group, intensifying diplomatic and regional tensions.

The M23 rebel group announced its withdrawal from peace talks scheduled for March 18 in Angola, citing EU sanctions against its leaders and Rwandan officials as a barrier to dialogue.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's government has confirmed its participation in the talks, with a delegation already en route to Luanda despite the rebels' absence.
The European Union imposed sanctions on senior Rwandan military commanders, M23 leaders, and Rwanda's state mining agency, accusing them of fueling the conflict in eastern Congo.
Rwanda severed diplomatic ties with Belgium, accusing it of bias and neo-colonialism, with both nations expelling each other's diplomats in escalating tensions.
The conflict in eastern Congo, rooted in historical tensions and competition over mineral resources, has displaced over 7 million people and caused thousands of deaths since January 2025.