The M23 militia is ruling over a vast stretch of territory in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, threatening the sovereignty of the biggest country in sub-Saharan Africa.

M23 rebels in Congo, backed by Rwanda, capture Walikale, dismissing calls for a ceasefire. This escalates a long-standing regional conflict, with implications for mineral-rich eastern Congo. Despite international pressure for peaceful talks with Kinshasa,

Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels will engage in direct negotiations in the coming days to end the conflict in the country’s mineral-rich east, according to the presidency of Angola, which will mediate the talks.