Congo’s government says it will participate in peace talks in Angola with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group that has captured key areas of Congo’s mineral-rich east

(Reuters) - Rwanda-backed M23 rebels said on Monday they would send a delegation to peace talks with Democratic Republic of Congo's government that are expected to begin on Tuesday in Angola's capital. (Reporting by Congo newsroom; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Alex Richardson)

President Felix Tshisekedi, who has long ruled out dialogue with M23, considered changing his position after a string of defeats as regional support for Congo has waned.

The talks are scheduled to start on Tuesday (March 18) in Angola’s capital city, Luanda. Joao Lourenco, the Angolan President, has been appointed to mediate the conflict by the African Union

The European Union sanctioned nine people and a gold refinery on Monday in connection with a Rwanda-backed rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a day before peace talks scheduled in Angola between M23 rebels and the Congolese government.

The M23 rebels on Monday continued their offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo ahead of direct peace talks with the Congolese government in Angola, according to local media. The fighting approached the territorial capital of Walikale in the eastern province of North Kivu, Congolese news website Actualite reported.