Angola has acted as a mediator in the conflict in eastern Congo, which escalated in late January when the Rwanda-backed rebels advanced and took control of the strategic eastern Congo city of Goma. In February, M23 seized Bukavu, eastern Congo’s second biggest city.

A revised Budget 2025 presented on Wednesday by South Africa’s finance minister was immediately rejected by major political parties, even though a proposed increase in value-added tax was sharply reduced.

Despite previously refusing to engage in negotiations, Congolese officials have agreed to meet M23 rebels in Luanda to discuss an end to the deadly conflict.