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Angola will end its mediation role in the east Congo conflict, says the presidency

Angola will end its mediation role in the east Congo conflict, says the presidency

Angola is stepping down as the mediator for parties in an intensifying Rwanda-backed rebel offensive against eastern Congo. A different African country will now take over to help bring peace talks back to track, announced the presidency on Monday.

M23, led by ethnic Tutsi, has escalated its long-running rebellion in this year. They have taken control of east Congo's largest cities since January.

Angola President Joao Lurenco, who is currently rotating African Union (AU), has tried to mediate a ceasefire lasting and reduce tensions between Congo, and Rwanda, the neighbouring country, which was accused of supporting M23. Rwanda denies that.

Last week, Congo and M23 held direct talks in Luanda, the capital of Angola, for the first-time after Congo's president Felix Tshisekedi agreed to send a delegation. Tshisekedi had previously refused to engage with the rebels.

M23 retreated at the last moment, after European Union sanctions were imposed against M23 officials and Rwandan officials.

The presidency of the AU said that "Angola feels the need to release itself from its responsibility as mediator in this conflict", and "dedicate itself more" to AU priorities overall.

The statement stated that another head of state would be appointed in the coming days.

The conflict has been resolved in several ways, with the genocide of 1994 and the competition for minerals as the main factors. There were several ceasefires violated and international sanctions, regional summits, and condemnations.

On Monday, the regional blocs in southern and eastern Africa are holding a second summit to discuss the crisis. The virtual event will be co-chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto, and his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Munagwa.

M23, last week, rejected a call by Congo and Rwanda for a ceasefire immediately and reiterated its demand for direct talks with Kinshasa. It said that this was the only solution to the conflict.

Over the weekend, the rebel group announced that it would withdraw its forces from the town of Walikale which they had seized in support of the peace efforts.

Congo's Army responded by saying it would respect the withdrawal announced and refrain from offensives against enemy troops to encourage de-escalation.

On Monday, a civil society source as well as a resident of Walikale confirmed that M23 was still present in the town. Reporting by Congo Newsroom; Writing by Sofia Christensen, Editing by Hereward and Topra Chopra

(source: Reuters)