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President Kagame holds talks with Angolan counterpart

By IGIHE
On 20 September 2024 at 01:12

President Paul Kagame, on September 19, 2024, held a phone conversation with his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, focusing on the Luanda-led peace talks aimed at normalizing relations between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Angolan President’s Office confirmed the development through a message shared on social media.

It further mentioned that President Lourenço sent Angola’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tete António, as a special envoy to Kinshasa to meet with DRC President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi in the framework of Angola’s broader efforts to mediate and resolve the security crisis in eastern DRC.

The conversation between Kagame and Lourenço followed a September 14, 2024, ministerial meeting in Luanda, where officials from Rwanda and the DRC discussed crucial issues, including the dismantling of the FDLR terrorist group and efforts to cease hostilities between conflicting parties in North Kivu province.

Despite these discussions, reports indicate that the recent Luanda talks did not result in concrete outcomes. The DRC delegation rejected Angola’s proposal for cooperation in dismantling the FDLR and declined the idea of engaging in dialogue with the M23 rebel group, which controls large swathes in North Kivu.

On September 18, President Lourenço also met with Huang Xia, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region. Their discussions centered on the progress of the Luanda talks. Huang Xia, who had previously visited Kigali and Kinshasa, expressed the UN’s full support for Angola’s continued efforts to secure peace and stability in eastern DRC.

Tensions between Rwanda and the DRC escalated following the resurgence of the M23 rebel group.

While the DRC accuses Rwanda of backing M23, Kigali strongly denies these claims and, in turn, accuses the DRC of collaborating with FDLR. Rwanda insists that DRC should address its internal issues without involving Kigali in its mess.

President Paul Kagame (right) has held a phone conversation with his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço (left).

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