Angola's President Joao Lourenco strongly condemned the M23 rebel group's occupation of the Goma city in the eastern DRC and called for the immediate withdrawal of the troops, as well as for a start of urgent talks on the conflict.
"[Angola's President Joao Lourenco] deplores the occupation of the city of Goma and calls for the immediate withdrawal of the M23 from the illegally occupied territories," the Angolan presidency said in a statement.
The Angolan leader, who is serving as the African Union mediator in the DRC-Rwanda conflict, also urged the resumption of discussions within the Nairobi process and the fulfillment of commitments made in the Luanda process, which would create secure conditions for the return of peacekeepers, the resumption of airport operations, and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The M23's actions are considered a violation of the commitments agreed upon in August 2024 following negotiations between the DRC and Rwanda mediated by Angola, according to the statement.