On Tuesday, Angola announced a ceasefire agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. The breakthrough comes after a crucial meeting between the foreign ministers of both nations, hosted by Angolan President Joao Lourenco at the presidential palace in Luanda.
The DRC has long accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels who have been clashing with Congolese forces in the volatile North Kivu province. Rwanda has consistently denied these allegations.
A UN Security Council report previously indicated that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan soldiers were involved with the M23 rebels, asserting that Kigali had “de facto control” over the group’s operations.
The newly announced ceasefire is scheduled to take effect at midnight on August 4, marking the end of a partially upheld humanitarian truce between the M23 and government forces. However, it remains unclear which factions have committed to laying down their arms.
The eastern DRC has endured approximately 30 years of conflict involving various local and foreign armed groups, including the M23 rebels. The United Nations reports that more than 1.7 million people have been displaced in this region alone, contributing to a total displacement figure of over 7 million across the country due to ongoing conflicts.
Source: The Newsroom Africa
