Rwanda-Congo Peace Talks Cancelled Amid Deadlock

The planned peace talks between the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been canceled, raising concerns over the ongoing M23 insurgency that has displaced over 1.9 million people. The meeting in Angola was aimed at addressing the crisis but collapsed due to Rwanda's insistence that the DRC engage directly with the M23 rebels, which the Congolese government rejected. The stalemate has heightened fears of a wider conflict in Africa's Great Lakes region, reminiscent of the devastating wars from 1996 to 2003. Congolese officials assert that the M23's existence is largely due to Rwandan military support, while Rwanda claims its involvement is defensive. The Angolan presidency confirmed the cancellation, noting that Rwandan President Paul Kagame did not attend the meeting with DRC's Felix Tshisekedi. The situation presents a significant challenge for regional stability, with previous negotiations failing to yield lasting peace.