Summary:
M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa recently claimed that the rebels had forced DRC President Félix Tshisekedi to negotiate, stating, “Peace begins with dialogue.
GOMA: The M23 Rebels have sent a five-member delegation to Luanda, Angola’s capital, for direct dialogue at the request of Angolan authorities.
The development was confirmed on Monday, March 17, 2025, by M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka. On behalf of the rebel group, Kanyuka expressed deep gratitude to Angolan President João Lourenço for his continued efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Since the start of the year, M23 has captured key areas in eastern DRC, a mineral-rich region, in a major offensive that has resulted in thousands of deaths. Angola has been mediating ceasefire efforts for months, but peace talks were stalled last year after Rwanda demanded direct dialogue between the DRC and M23 a condition the Congolese government rejected.
M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa recently claimed that the rebels had forced DRC President Félix Tshisekedi to negotiate, stating, “Peace begins with dialogue. The sooner we talk, the sooner peace becomes a reality.” The conflict escalated early this year when M23 launched a rapid offensive, seizing the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu.
M23 is one of approximately 100 armed groups operating in eastern DRC, an area plagued by violence and resource disputes. The conflict has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, displacing over seven million people and causing an estimated 7,000 deaths since January.
According to the United Nations, M23 is supported by around 4,000 Rwandan soldiers and has previously threatened to advance on Kinshasa, the DRC’s capital. Rwanda, however, maintains that its forces are acting in self-defense against Congolese troops and militias hostile to Kigali.
The long-running conflict in eastern DRC is rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the ongoing struggle for control of the region’s vast mineral wealth.
In February, the UN Human Rights Council launched a commission to investigate atrocities committed by both sides, including allegations of rape and summary executions.
