Dar es Salaam, March 25 -- ANGOLA: ANGOLAN President Joao Lourenco is stepping down as a mediator in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) to focus on his new role as chairman of the African Union (AU), his office said on Monday.

President Lourenco had been attempting to facilitate direct talks between Congolese officials and the M23 rebel group in order to end decades-long fighting in the DR Congo, which escalated earlier this year and has resulted in thousands of deaths.

“Angola recognizes the need to relieve itself of the responsibility of mediating this conflict in eastern DRC, in order to more comprehensively focus on the general priorities established by the continental organization. These prior...