Angola withdraws as mediator in Congo peace efforts

Angola has officially withdrawn from its role as a mediator in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) peace talks after two unsuccessful attempts to facilitate negotiations.

The country first attempted to broker direct talks between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in December, followed by an effort to mediate between the DRC government and M23 rebels.

Both attempts failed to produce a breakthrough in the ongoing conflict that has worsened the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo.

In a statement released on Monday, Angola's presidency confirmed its decision to "free itself from the responsibility of mediator" and shift focus to broader African Union (AU) priorities.

The move follows the collapse of the Luanda meeting earlier this month and President João Lourenço's earlier indication at the AU summit in Addis Ababa that he would step down from his AU-sanctioned mediation role.

Lourenço, who now serves as AU Chairperson for a one-year term, is prioritizing wider continental issues over the Congo peace process.

Regional analyst Paul Olind believes Angola's decision opens the door for Qatar to take over as the primary facilitator in negotiations between Kinshasa and Kigali.

Tensions between Angola and the involved parties escalated last week after Luanda expressed surprise over a meeting in Qatar between Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame.

This meeting occurred on the same day Kinshasa had sent a delegation to Luanda for scheduled talks with M23 rebels.

Angola’s Foreign Minister, Téte António, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to African-led solutions and stressed that despite Qatar's unexpected involvement, Luanda supports all efforts toward peace.

"We believe that African conflicts are best resolved by African actors," he said.

Further complicating diplomatic relations, President Kagame has previously accused Lourenço of bias, raising concerns over Angola’s neutrality in the mediation process.

Angola has indicated that another mediator will be appointed to take over the stalled peace efforts.

Meanwhile, leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are set to hold a joint virtual summit this evening.

The meeting aims to address ongoing tensions between the DRC and Rwanda and explore new strategies for restoring peace in the region.