Cintia A. , Lebledparle.com
The pullout was announced this Monday March 24, 2025, by the Angolan Presidency, bringing to a close attempts that started in July 2022 under the Luanda Process. Angola, under President João Lourenço, took up the mediation role at the request of the African Union (AU) and regional leaders, launching the Luanda Process to de-escalate tensions between Rwanda and DRC. The two countries signed their initial peace agreement in November 2022, calling for a ceasefire and the retreat of M23 rebels from seized territories in eastern DRC. Despite numerous attempts at ceasefires, fighting continued, and peace talks remained inconclusive.
Angola had secured the consent of the DRC government and the M23 rebels to engage in direct talks in Luanda on March 18, 2025. The talks, however, collapsed at the last minute as a result of various setbacks, including what Angola referred to as “external factors not connected to the African process.” The mediation was also hampered when the M23 rebels refused to go, citing international sanctions leveled against their leaders as a hurdle.
The process of mediation in Angola became increasingly entangled, particularly following a sudden meeting between the President of the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi, and the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, in Doha, Qatar, which did not reportedly involve Angola. This made the efficacy of the mediation process and the continuation of Angola in it suspect.
Meanwhile in between their talks, violence escalated in eastern DRC, with the rebels capturing key areas of influence, including the mineral town of Walikale in North Kivu province. Though the rebels later announced a planned withdrawal from Walikale as a token of dedication to peace, even though there are doubts about their long-term aspirations
With Angola pulling out of its mediation role, the future of the peace process is in doubt. The African Union and regional blocs will likely resort to another mediator to attempt a lasting solution. But the humanitarian toll of the fighting continues to grow, with thousands of people displaced and access to relief becoming more difficult.
