Angolan President João Lourenço, currently chair of the African Union, has called for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). President Lourenço on Saturday called for a ceasefire ahead of peace talks he will be hosting.

Direct peace talks” between M23 rebels and Democratic Republic of Congo are set to start in Luanda on March 18, Angola’s presidency announced in a statement Wednesday. In January, the

The Democratic Republic of Congo's government and the rebel group M23 will meet in Angola for peace talks on March 18. The date was confirmed by Angolan President Joao Lourenco, whose country has been trying to mediate an end to the conflict for months.

The abductions come as the Rwanda-backed group continues its rapid military expansion in eastern DR Congo, seizing key cities and escalating one of the most intense conflicts in over a decade.

The fall of Goma and Bukavu towns to M23 rebels has complicated movement into the DRC, with businessmen saying the border points are a mess

The recent kidnappings of patients from hospitals by the M23 once again demonstrate its disregard for peace in eastern DRC and its contempt for the people of this region,' says Lucy Tamlyn - Anadolu A

This marks a shift from previous Angola-led peace talks, which excluded M23 and instead focused on Rwanda’s role in the conflict.

Democratic Republic of Congo will send a delegation to Angola on Tuesday for talks aiming to resolve a spiralling conflict against Rwandan-backed rebels in the east, the presidency said on Sunday. Angola said last week that direct peace talks between Congo and M23 rebels would begin in the Angolan capital Luanda on March 18.