Angola has announced its decision to step down as the mediator in the escalating conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, according to a statement from the Angolan presidency on Monday. Another African state is set to take over mediation efforts in the coming days.

The decision comes amid a surge in fighting as the ethnic Tutsi-led M23 rebels continue their offensive in eastern Congo, seizing key cities and expanding into mineral-rich territories. Angola’s President João Lourenço, who also serves as the current Chairperson of the African Union (AU), had been leading efforts to broker a ceasefire and ease tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali. Rwanda has repeatedly denied accusations of backing M23.

Congo and M23 had been scheduled to engage in direct talks for the first time in Luanda last week after Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi agreed to send a delegation. However, M23 withdrew from the meeting at the last minute, following European Union sanctions against its members and Rwandan officials.

In its statement, Angola cited the failure of the talks as one of the reasons for stepping back, stating the need to "devote itself more" to broader AU priorities. The identity of the next mediator is yet to be announced.

Efforts to resolve the longstanding conflict, which has roots in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the competition for valuable minerals, have so far yielded limited results. Several ceasefires have been violated despite international pressure, sanctions, and regional summits.

A joint summit by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) is scheduled for Monday, co-chaired by Kenya’s President William Ruto and Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to discuss the crisis.

Meanwhile, M23 last week dismissed a joint call for an immediate ceasefire by Congo and Rwanda, reiterating its demand for direct negotiations with Kinshasa as the only viable solution. Over the weekend, the group announced its withdrawal from the town of Walikale as a sign of commitment to peace efforts.

In response, Congo’s army stated it would hold off on offensives against M23 to encourage de-escalation. However, local sources reported on Monday that M23 fighters were still present in Walikale, raising concerns about the sincerity of their withdrawal.

With Angola stepping back from its mediation role, attention now turns to the African Union’s next move in seeking a sustainable resolution to the conflict.