Angolan President João Lourenço, also the current African Union (AU) chair, called on Saturday for all parties in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) conflict to halt hostilities starting midnight Sunday. The plea, outlined in a statement from the Angolan Presidency, aims to pave the way for peace talks scheduled for March 18 in Luanda between the DRC government and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels.

Lourenço stressed that the ceasefire must halt all attacks on civilians and attempts to capture new territory, creating a conducive environment for de-escalation. Angola announced its role as host for the talks on Wednesday, though the DRC government has yet to confirm participation. The M23 rebels welcomed the initiative but urged DRC President Felix Tshisekedi to publicly commit to direct negotiations.

The conflict has worsened recently, with M23 launching offensives in North Kivu and South Kivu, seizing key towns and displacing thousands, deepening the region’s humanitarian crisis, according to Xinhua news agency. Despite past efforts, peace remains elusive.

On Thursday, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) decided to end its military mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), launched in December 2023 with troops from Malawi, South Africa, and Tanzania to support the DRC against armed groups. Facing casualties and escalating violence, SADC opted for a phased troop withdrawal after a virtual summit of its 16 member states, including Angola and the DRC. The bloc honored fallen soldiers while shifting focus from military action to diplomatic solutions.

As the March 18 talks approach, Lourenço’s ceasefire call underscores a critical push for dialogue over combat, though the DRC’s response remains pivotal.