Angola, which is mediating the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has proposed that Kinshasa and the M23 armed group observe a ceasefire starting Feb. 18, according to a statement issued overnight on Wednesday.
“The Republic of Angola proposes the entry into force of a ceasefire between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23, starting at 1200 hours on Feb. 18,” the Angolan government said in a statement.
The proposal must still be accepted by both Kinshasa and the M23.
A senior M23 official told media on Thursday that the armed group was “willing” to respect a halt in fighting, while Kinshasa said it was “not in a position to comment immediately.”
The proposal comes shortly after the announcement of a planned deployment of U.N. peacekeepers to eastern DRC to monitor the implementation of a possible ceasefire.
Eastern Congo, a region rich in natural resources, has been plagued by violence for three decades. Several ceasefires and truces have been signed since late 2021, but they have systematically collapsed shortly after being agreed.
