The Democratic Republic of Congo is considering participating in peace talks with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, organized by Angola. The decision aligns with a phased withdrawal of SADC troops and comes amid tensions with Rwanda,

Direct peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels will begin in the Angolan capital on March 18, Angola's presidency said in a statement on Wednesday.

DR CONGO: Peace talks between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and M23 rebels will begin on March 18, Angola announced on Wednesday, as it attempts to mediate a long-term ceasefire in the conflict-torn Central African nation.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's government and the rebel group M23 will meet in Angola for peace talks on March 18. The date was confirmed by Angolan President Joao Lourenco, whose country has been trying to mediate an end to the conflict for months.

Angolan President Joao Lourenco, the African Union’s peace mediator for the conflict in Congo, is pushing for direct talks between Kinshasa and M23 rebel group - Anadolu Ajansı

Angola has acted as a mediator in the conflict in eastern Congo, which escalated in late January when the Rwanda-backed rebels advanced and took control of the strategic eastern Congo city of Goma. In February, M23 seized Bukavu, eastern Congo’s second biggest city.