On March 24, 2025, the Office of the President of Angola clarified that this decision was made to allow the country, which currently leads the African Union (AU), to focus more on continental priorities.

Angola emphasized that its efforts would now concentrate on issues such as peace and security across the continent, infrastructure development, regional integration, the fight against pandemics, and promoting economic growth, social welfare, and justice.

The President’s Office further stated that, in collaboration with the AU Commission, a new country supported by both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) will soon be chosen to replace Angola in the mediation role.

Olusegun Obasanjo, Uhuru Kenyatta, and Hailemariam Desalegn, who have been tasked with assisting the peace talks, will also help in selecting Angola’s successor.

Angola’s mediation efforts began in 2022 when relations between the DRC and Rwanda worsened due to security-related conflicts. However, the talks stalled in December 2024 after the DRC refused to engage with the M23 armed group.

After meeting with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi on March 11, 2025, Angola’s President João Lourenço announced that direct negotiations between the DRC and M23 representatives would begin on March 18.

However, on March 17, M23 withdrew from the talks scheduled in Luanda due to sanctions imposed on its leaders by the European Union (EU) on the same day.

On the same day the talks were set to begin, Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, convened a meeting in Doha with Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC.

The leaders expressed support for political dialogue between the conflicting parties, as endorsed by both the EAC and SADC.

On March 17, M23 withdrew from the talks scheduled in Luanda due to sanctions imposed on its leaders by the European Union (EU) on the same day.