The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has confirmed its participation in peace talks with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, set to commence Tuesday in Luanda, Angola.

Presidential spokesperson Tina Salama announced that a Congolese delegation is already in the Angolan capital, marking a significant shift from President Felix Tshisekedi’s earlier refusal to negotiate directly with M23, whom he labeled a “terrorist group” in a January 18 speech.

The decision follows M23’s rapid territorial gains since January, including the seizure of Goma and Bukavu, escalating a decades-long conflict in eastern Congo’s mineral-rich region.

M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka confirmed on X that their delegation is also en route to Luanda. Angola, a mediator in the crisis, brokered this direct dialogue after prior talks with Rwanda collapsed in December over demands for Congo-M23 engagement—conditions Congo had rejected until now.

The conflict, fueled by Rwanda’s alleged support—denied by Kigali—has displaced over 7 million people and killed thousands, with UN experts estimating 4,000 Rwandan troops bolster M23’s ranks. The rebels’ ambitions have at times stretched toward Kinshasa, 1,575 kilometers west. The UN Human Rights Council recently launched a probe into atrocities, including rape and summary executions, attributed to both sides.

International pressure is mounting, with the EU sanctioning five Rwandan officials, including a special forces commander, and Rwanda severing ties with Belgium on Monday after aid cuts—moves President Paul Kagame decried as “destructive.” Meanwhile, the U.S. eyes a mining partnership with Congo, with envoy Rep. Ronny Jackson meeting Tshisekedi Sunday, stressing peace as a prerequisite for investment. “American companies need stability to work here,” Jackson said.

As Angola hosts these talks, the stakes are high to halt a humanitarian crisis among the world’s worst, testing whether dialogue can tame a conflict entwined with regional rivalries and resource struggles.