Angola’s President João Lourenço has called for a ceasefire between the Congolese government and the M23 rebels to begin on 18 February.
Speaking as Chairperson of the African Union, Lourenço is backing ongoing mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
A statement from the Angolan Presidency says the proposed ceasefire in eastern Congo should take effect on 18 February.
The announcement follows a meeting in Angola between President Félix Tshisekedi and several African leaders to discuss ways to end the fighting.
But previous ceasefire deals signed by the DRC government, Rwanda, and M23 since 2021 have repeatedly collapsed.
Kinshasa says it is ready to respect the latest truce.
However, Rwanda’s Foreign Minister has questioned whether the Congolese government will fully honour the agreement.
Meanwhile, fighting has intensified in eastern DRC since the beginning of the year despite ongoing diplomatic efforts by the United States and Qatar.
Angola has taken the leading role in trying to broker peace and is expected to host an inter-Congolese dialogue in Luanda, although no date has yet been announced.
Regional leaders continue to push for a political solution to the long-running conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives.
African Union Commission Welcomes the Signing of the Terms of Reference for the Ceasefire Mechanism between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and AFC/M23.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, warmly welcomes the signing… pic.twitter.com/uZuPwLr1yh
— African Union (@_AfricanUnion) February 12, 2026
– Reporting by Chris Ocamringa
