Angola to Step Down as Mediator in Eastern Congo Conflict

By Ollus Ndomu

Angola will step down as a mediator in efforts to resolve the Rwanda-backed rebel offensive in eastern Congo, paving the way for another African nation to take the lead in peace talks, officials said.

Angolan President João Lourenço, who currently chairs the African Union (AU), had been working to broker a ceasefire and ease tensions between Congo and Rwanda. Congo has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim Rwanda denies.

The ethnic Tutsi-led M23 insurgency, which reignited in January, has since seized eastern Congo’s two largest cities and advanced into mineral-rich territories, including gold-producing regions.

It remains unclear which country will take over mediation efforts, but AU officials say talks will continue in hopes of de-escalating the crisis.