Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels will engage in direct negotiations in the coming days to end the conflict in the country’s mineral-rich east, according to the presidency of Angola, which will mediate the talks.

The Rwanda-backed M23 has said it is committed to a ceasefire in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo despite its capture of a key town and no-show at peace talks this week. Confirming Walikale's capture in a statement from the armed group's Alliance Fleuve Congo political coalition late on Thursday,

After talks in Qatar, the two countries’ presidents said they were committed to an unconditional truce between Congo’s army and a rebel group that Rwanda denies backing.