Luanda - Angola on Tuesday in Luanda strongly condemned the actions of the M23 and reaffirmed its commitment to the defense of human rights, the protection of civilians and the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The condemnation was made by the country's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs , Esmeralda da Silva Mendonça, during an emergency virtual meeting of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council in Luanda.
According to a press release, the meeting was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Côte d'Ivoire, Kacou Leon Adom, in his capacity as Chairman-in-Office of the AU Peace and Security Council for the month of January.
Esmeralda Mendonça recalled Angolan President João Lourenço's call for respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, with particular attention to the protection of civilians and the security of the military forces present in the DRC.
Angola reiterated the urgency of an immediate cessation of hostilities and calls on the parties to return to the negotiating table within the framework of the Luanda Process, recognized by the AU and the international community as the main mechanism for a peaceful and lasting solution in the region.
The diplomat added that a final peace agreement is expected to be signed at a future tripartite summit between Angola, the DRC and Rwanda, which will be a decisive step towards stabilizing the east of the DRC and strengthening regional cooperation.
Esmeralda Mendonça said that the Roadmap of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Joint Plan defined at the First Tripartite Summit in July 2022 established clear commitments between the parties to achieve priority objectives.
Despite the efforts made to maintain peace and security in the east of the DRC, the Secretary of State deplored the continuation of hostilities and the flagrant violation of the ceasefire in force since 4 August 2024 by the M23 group, which has worsened the security situation in the provinces of North and South Kivu.
As part of Angola's chairmanship of the ICGLR and the African Union's mandate to mediate in the crisis in the DRC, President João Lourenço has led political and diplomatic initiatives to restore peace and stability in the region, combat the presence of armed groups and promote confidence between the DRC and Rwanda. FMA/VIC
