Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has long ruled out dialogue with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels rampaging through eastern parts of his country, but a string of defeats and waning regional support have forced him think again.

Joao Lourenco, Angolan President and current African Union (AU) chair, on Saturday urged all parties involved in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to cease

This marks a shift from previous Angola-led peace talks, which excluded M23 and instead focused on Rwanda’s role in the conflict. View on euronews

Congo's former President Joseph Kabila has initiated talks with opposition politicians about the country's political future as Rwanda-backed rebels seize territory in the east, five sources familiar with the outreach told Reuters.

M23 fighters, backed by Rwanda, continue to advance into eastern DR Congo. While the rebels are outnumbered by the Congolese army, DW examines whether the military has the capacity to respond effectively.