Angola’s Ceasefire Proposal Could Reset DRC–M23 Talks

Angola has proposed a ceasefire between the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group, set to begin at 12:00 on February 18, and says it is awaiting a public declaration of acceptance from the parties an approach that could reshape the current mediation track by forcing a clear, time-bound commitment as reported by  AFP via Eyewitness News.

The proposal comes after a high-level meeting in Luanda that included DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, African Union mediator Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé (Togo), and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, signaling a coordinated push to consolidate diplomacy that has often moved in parallel tracks.

Why this push could change the trajectory

For much of the past year, ceasefire attempts have struggled because they were either not universally accepted, not verifiable, or quickly overtaken by battlefield developments. Angola’s latest move places emphasis on public acceptance and a specific start time details that, if endorsed, can help negotiators and monitors measure compliance and respond faster to violations.

It also arrives against the backdrop of competing peace efforts. In December, the DRC and Rwanda formalized a U.S.-brokered agreement in Washington, but clashes have continued in eastern Congo underscoring the gap between diplomatic texts and conditions on the ground.

Eastern Congo has faced armed conflict for decades, but the current phase has been shaped by the resurgence of M23 since late 2021 and the group’s expansion in North and South Kivu, provinces bordering Rwanda and rich in mineral resources.

M23 fighters captured Goma in January 2025 and Bukavu in February 2025, two major regional centers events that reinforced Kinshasa’s position that any lasting de-escalation must address cross-border dynamics and armed group financing as well as battlefield control.

Luanda has also referenced a potential inter-Congolese dialogue and said preparatory steps would be announced in due course suggesting a broader political process may be paired with security measures if the ceasefire holds.

A key test will be whether the ceasefire becomes more than a declaration. Previous efforts including talks that broke down after shifting diplomatic alignments show how quickly momentum can evaporate without enforcement mechanisms and sustained political buy-in from the principal actors.