Angola has put forward a new ceasefire proposal aiming to halt hostilities between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and M23 rebels starting February 18. The initiative comes as regional leaders intensify efforts to resolve one of Central Africa's most persistent conflicts.
The proposal emerged from high-level talks in Luanda this week, attended by Angolan President João Lourenço, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, and African Union mediators including Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbé and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. While not yet formally endorsed, the truce would require public acceptance from both parties before implementation.
Angolan authorities emphasized this ceasefire would precede broader inter-Congolese dialogue preparations, though details remain pending. The proposal follows failed 2024 and 2025 peace agreements, with Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe cautioning that "stacking peace agreements" without addressing root causes risks repeating past failures.
Regional analysts note the upcoming six-day window before the proposed truce creates urgent pressure for confidence-building measures. The international community watches closely as February 18 approaches, aware that success could reshape security dynamics across mineral-rich eastern DRC.
