The Angolan authorities, who are mediating between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have announced that a ceasefire will be enforced by the M23 from today, Tuesday, at noon.
Angolan President João Lourenco had previously announced that he had obtained a mandate to talk directly with the M23 command at a mini-summit on peace and security held in Addis Ababa. The mandate is aimed at moving the peace process forward.
According to Kinshasa-based media correspondents, this Angolan mediation was taking place until late last year, in addition to Burundi and Kenya. However, tensions have risen recently between the presidents in Kinshasa and Kiga li, making mediation efforts complicated.
Direct talks with the M23 have been part of the mediation approach since January. The first meeting with an M23 delegation took place on 12 January in Kenya with a mediator appointed by the Community of East African States (EAC).
Now João Lourenco has been appointed to talk to the M23 in an attempt to restore peace in the region.