Angolan President João Lourenço and senior African Union figures have called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after talks with President Félix Tshisekedi in Luanda, as fighting with the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group intensifies. In a joint statement Monday, Lourenço who also serves as AU chairperson urged all parties to agree on a ceasefire date and speed up the rollout of verification mechanisms established during talks in Doha on October 14, 2025. Tshisekedi signed the statement alongside Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who serve as AU mediator and facilitators in the peace process.
Eastern DRC, a mineral-rich region bordering Rwanda and Burundi, has endured decades of armed conflict. Violence surged again last year as M23 captured key towns and continued offensives despite multiple diplomatic efforts. These include a US-brokered peace deal signed in Washington in December between the DRC and Rwanda, and parallel Qatari mediation that produced a ceasefire commitment in July.
The latest statement backs the US-led agreement and mandates Angola to consult with all Congolese stakeholders. The deals include monitoring mechanisms for a “permanent” ceasefire, with support expected from the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO. The UN has indicated it will deploy additional support to help stabilize the region. However, tensions remain high. A recent M23 drone strike on an airport in Kisangani underscored the fragility of the peace efforts and the risk of further escalation in one of Africa’s most volatile conflict zones.
