The Latest Breaking News from Angola

Since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960, the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen recurrent armed conflict, political tensions, regional power struggles and battles over its natural resources. RFI takes a look at the pivotal moments in the country's history and their connections with today's events.

Angola announced on Monday it would withdraw from its role as mediator in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between government forces and the M23 rebel group in order to focus on its presidency of the African Union (AU).

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has sent a government delegation to the Angolan capital of Luanda, while M23 also confirmed its participation.

Congo’s government says it will participate in peace talks in Angola with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group that has captured key areas of Congo’s mineral-rich east

The southern African regional bloc has decided to end its military deployment to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where it lost at least a dozen soldiers in conflict there in January.

Direct peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels will begin in the Angolan capital on 18 March, Angola's presidency said in a statement on Wednesday. The Congolese presidency has for now only acknowledged receiving the message.

A spokesperson for DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi said the government had received an invitation for the talks.

Angola says Congo’s government and the M23 rebel group will participate in peace talks on March 18

As Angola continues to act as a mediator in the crisis in eastern DRC, President Lourenço is working on bringing about direct negotiations between Kinshasa and the M23.