Luanda, Angola – His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and designated Mediator by the African Union in the political and security crisis between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda, has expressed deep concern over the latest developments in eastern DRC.
AfricaHeadline Reports Team
editorial@africaheadline.com
The President has condemned the occupation of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, by the March 23 Movement (M23), calling it a serious violation of the Luanda Process.
The escalation comes despite diplomatic efforts initiated by President Lourenço, who held separate bilateral meetings earlier this year with His Excellency Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, in February and March 2024, respectively.
Both leaders had agreed to prioritise a ceasefire, the neutralisation of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and the disengagement of forces—including the withdrawal of Rwandan Defence Forces from DRC territory.
Following extensive negotiations between the Foreign Ministers of the three nations, supported by intelligence chiefs, a ceasefire was declared and took effect on 4 August 2024. The agreement also outlined commitments by both DRC and Rwanda regarding the neutralisation of the FDLR and the withdrawal of forces.
These commitments were reinforced through the adoption of a Concept of Operations (CONOPs) and an enhanced verification mechanism, with liaison officers from both countries.
The issue of the M23, which Rwanda has consistently labelled as an internal Congolese matter, was designated for resolution under the Nairobi Process, a platform for inter-Congolese dialogue. In this context, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of Kenya and designated Facilitator of the East African Community (EAC), committed on 15 December 2024 in Luanda to accelerating consultations with M23 to ensure a diplomatic resolution.
In light of the recent developments, President Lourenço has issued a series of urgent appeals:
The Angolan leader strongly condemns the occupation of Goma and demands the immediate withdrawal of M23 from all illegally occupied territories;
President Lourenço calls for the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan Defence Forces from Congolese territory, facilitating conditions for stability and the safe reopening of Goma’s airport. This would also allow the return of officials from the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) verification team, and the entry of humanitarian aid for displaced populations;
The Angolan President reiterates that discussions on M23 and other armed groups in DRC must urgently resume under the Nairobi Process;
President Lourenço urges DRC and Rwanda to honour their commitments under the Luanda Process, paving the way for an emergency Tripartite Summit in Luanda, with the date to be announced soon;
The latest developments threaten to unravel months of painstaking negotiations aimed at stabilising the volatile eastern DRC region. Angola, as a key mediator, continues to push for diplomatic solutions, ensuring regional peace and security remain a top priority.