ANGOLA has announced plans to mediate in the conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwandan-backed M23 militia.

According to a press release from the office of Angolan President Joao Lourenco issued while his Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi was in Angola to discuss a potential peace process, the latter country will begin to establish contacts with both the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and the M23 militia, with direct negotiations to be carried out in the coming days.

The announcement follows several cancelled rounds of peace talks hosted by Angola that excluded M23 and instead focused on their Rwandan backers.