Congo and Rwanda say peace talks in Angola will not take place

Rwanda-Congo meeting canceled, dashing hopes for M23 deal; analyst urges international pressure on Rwanda.

A meeting between the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo will not take place as planned on Sunday (December 15, 2024), both countries said, dashing hopes of a deal to curb Congo's M23 rebel conflict that has displaced more than 1.9 million people.

The event was meant to see a rare face-to-face meeting between the central African leaders in Angola, where long-running negotiations have sought to ease tensions between the neighbours linked to the almost three-year M23 insurgency.

Expectations that a deal would be signed had raised hopes of an end to a standoff that has further destabilised eastern Congo and fanned fears of a broader conflict in Africa's Great Lakes region akin to two devastating wars between 1996 and 2003 that cost millions of lives.

"The cancellation of this tripartite is caused by the refusal of the Rwandan delegation to take part," Congo's presidency said in a statement.

It said on Saturday (December 14, 2024) Rwanda had made the signing of a peace agreement conditional on Congo holding direct talks with M23 rebels, which Congo rejected.

Rwanda’s foreign ministry said this lack of consensus meant it would not have been possible for it to sign Sunday's (December 15, 2024) agreement.

Postponing the meeting would allow Congo time to engage directly with M23, it said in a statement.