A potential breakthrough emerged in the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday.
Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio announced that Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame had agreed to meet with his Congolese counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi.
The much-anticipated meeting aims to address the volatile security situation in the region, particularly the resurgence of the M23 rebel group.
The M23, a primarily Tutsi rebel group, re-emerged in late 2021 after eight years of dormancy.
Clashes between the M23 and Congolese forces have escalated significantly in recent months, displacing over 100,000 civilians according to the United Nations.
The DRC government accuses Rwanda of backing the M23, a charge Kigali vehemently denies.
Monday’s announcement comes after a meeting in Luanda, Angola, between President Kagame and Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who is mediating the conflict on behalf of the African Union.
A statement from Rwanda’s presidency confirmed the leaders’ agreement “on key steps towards addressing the root causes of the conflict,” emphasizing the importance of existing peace processes.
Previously, President Tshisekedi had conditioned a meeting with Kagame on the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory, a ceasefire, and the dismantling of M23 bases.
While details of the upcoming meeting remain unclear, this development suggests a willingness from both sides to engage in dialogue and potentially de-escalate the situation in eastern DRC.
