Angola, currently presiding over the African Union and acting as a mediator in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has proposed a ceasefire to both the DRC government in Kinshasa and the anti-government rebel group M23, effective February 18. This proposal was made public in a statement released late Wednesday night.

On the previous Monday in Luanda, leaders from the DRC, Angola, Togo (the designated mediator from the African Union), and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is facilitating the talks, reached an agreement to call for a ceasefire, but they had not settled on a specific date until Angola's recent announcement. The proposed ceasefire aims to create a pathway for peace in a conflict that has resulted in significant humanitarian challenges in the region.

However, it is essential to note that the ceasefire proposal is merely a suggestion from the Angolan presidency, which has been reinvigorated in its efforts to mediate the ongoing crisis since December. The effectiveness of this proposal will depend on the willingness of both parties to adhere to the terms and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve their differences and end the violence that has plagued the eastern DRC for years.