Dar es Salaam, March 13 -- DR CONGO: Peace talks between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and M23 rebels will begin on March 18, Angola announced on Wednesday, as it attempts to mediate a long-term ceasefire in the conflict-torn Central African nation.

The negotiations will take place in Angolas capital, Luanda, the office of the countrys president, Joao Goncalves Lourenco, said in a statement. The decision came a day after Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi visited Luanda to discuss the ongoing hostilities in eastern DR Congo with his Angolan counterpart, who is also the current chair of the African Union.

Violence escalated in the resource-rich countrys eastern provinces in January, with fighters fro...