(Reuters) – 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.
(Reporting by Sonia Rolley and Congo newsroom; Editing by Kevin Liffey; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Louise Heavens and Kevin Liffey)
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