Congo says it will join peace talks with Rwandan-backed rebels on Tuesday

The country will send a delegation to Angola on Tuesday for talks

M23 rebels sit on a truck during the escort of captured FDLR members (not pictured) to Rwanda for repatriation, at the Goma-Gisenyi Grande Barrier border crossing, Mar 1, 2025. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi

Democratic Republic of Congo will send a delegation to Angola on Tuesday for talks aiming to resolve a spiralling conflict against Rwandan-backed rebels in the east, the presidency said on Sunday.

Angola said last week that direct peace talks between Congo and M23 rebels would begin in the Angolan capital Luanda on March 18.

President Felix Tshisekedi, who has long ruled out dialogue with M23, had been considering changing his position after a string of defeats as regional support for Congo has waned.

"At this stage, we can't say who will make up the delegation," presidency spokesperson Tina Salama said.

M23 have acknowledged receipt of Angola's invitation, their spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said on X on Sunday.

M23 made a series of demands after the talks were announced, including asking Tshisekedi to publicly express his commitment to negotiate with them directly.