Direct peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels will begin in the Angolan capital on March 18, Angola's presidency said in a statement on Wednesday. The Southern African country has been trying to mediate a lasting ceasefire and de-escalate tensions between Congo and neighbouring Rwanda,

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. M23 seized Bukavu, eastern Congo’s second biggest city, last month.

Angola has announced plans to act as a mediator in the conflict between Congo and the Rwandan-backed rebel group M23.

Angola said on Tuesday it would attempt to broker direct talks between Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the coming days. It was not immediately clear if the Congolese government,

ANGOLA has announced plans to mediate in the conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwandan-backed M23 militia.

Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels will engage in direct negotiations in the coming days to end the conflict in the country’s mineral-rich east, according to the presidency of Angola, which will mediate the talks.

Southern African nation keen to contribute to ending long-running conflict in eastern Congo, presidency says - Anadolu Ajansı