The much-anticipated peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, slated for Tuesday, March 18, 2025, collapsed after M23 withdrew at the last minute. The M23, part of the Congo River Alliance, cited new EU sanctions against its leaders and Rwandan officials as the reason, accusing the EU of trying to derail the talks. Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi initially resisted direct negotiations with the group. However, he relented after meeting with Angola’s president João Lourenço last week. Despite M23’s pullout, Congo’s delegation will proceed to Luanda, the venue for the talks, as planned. The long-running conflict has intensified this year, with M23 seizing key eastern cities, killing thousands, and displacing hundreds of thousands.
Source: DW