ANGOLA has announced plans to mediate in the conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwandan-backed M23 militia.

According to a press release from the office of Angolan President Joao Lourenco issued while his Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi was in Angola to discuss a potential peace process, the latter country will begin to establish contacts with both the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and the M23 militia, with direct negotiations to be carried out in the coming days.

The announcement follows several cancelled rounds of peace talks hosted by Angola that excluded M23 and instead focused on their Rwandan backers.

The militia is one of about 100 armed groups that have been vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo near the border with Rwanda, in a conflict that has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. More than seven million people have been displaced.

M23 is supported by about 4,000 troops from neighbouring Rwanda, according to United Nations experts.

In a lightning three-week offensive, the militia took control of Goma, eastern Congo’s main city, and seized the second-largest city, Bukavu, last month.

Also in February, the UN Human Rights Council launched a commission to investigate atrocities, including allegations of rape and killings akin to “summary executions,” by both sides.