Luanda: The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), F©lix Tshisekedi, declared on Thursday in Luanda that his country is open to aligning itself with a ceasefire in Eastern Congo, following the meeting held with the Angolan Head of State and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Joo Louren§o.

According to Angola Press News Agency, Tshisekedi expressed gratitude towards Louren§o’s commitment to peace in the DRC. He emphasized that as president of the African Union, Louren§o has been actively working to resolve the conflict. Tshisekedi reiterated the DRC’s willingness to follow Angola’s proposed initiatives aimed at pacifying the country.

Tshisekedi stated that the DRC is ready to implement the ceasefire once formal confirmation is received from President Louren§o. He assured that his government would immediately act upon the initiatives led by the African Union once confirmation is given.

The Congolese President again expressed appreciation for the Angolan President, expecting that the ongoing diplomatic efforts will lead to peace and stability in the DRC. The leaders discussed the persistent violence despite a recent peace agreement signed in Washington between the DRC and Rwanda.

The Washington-2025 Agreement, signed last December by Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, aims to end the bilateral conflict by withdrawing Rwandan troops from Congolese territory and ceasing support for hostile militias. However, the situation remains unstable on the ground, with M23 forces advancing in several areas and recent strategic captures like Uvira in South Kivu province.

Internationally, the United States has expressed concern about alleged violations of the Washington Agreement by Rwanda. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have stated that actions attributed to Kigali in Eastern DRC are not in line with the commitments made. Washington warned of potential diplomatic measures if support for armed groups in Congolese territory continues.