Angola has acted as a mediator in the conflict in eastern Congo, which escalated in late January when the Rwanda-backed rebels advanced and took control of the strategic eastern Congo city of Goma. In February, M23 seized Bukavu, eastern Congo’s second biggest city.

Despite previously refusing to engage in negotiations, Congolese officials have agreed to meet M23 rebels in Luanda to discuss an end to the deadly conflict.

A revised Budget 2025 presented on Wednesday by South Africa’s finance minister was immediately rejected by major political parties, even though a proposed increase in value-added tax was sharply reduced.