LUANDA - 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 hostilities starting at 0:00 local time on Sunday, according to a statement released by the Angolan Presidency.

Lourenco emphasized that the cease-fire is essential to create a climate of de-escalation that favors the upcoming peace talks between the DRC government and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, set to take place in Luanda, Angola's capital.

"The cease-fire must include all hostile actions against civilians and any attempts to seize new positions in the conflict zone," the statement said.

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Angola announced on Wednesday that it would host direct peace talks between the DRC government and the M23 rebels in Luanda on March 18.

The DRC government has not officially confirmed its participation yet. The M23 told the media that it welcomed Angola's initiative, but called on DRC President Felix Tshisekedi to publicly commit to direct negotiations with the group.

Fighting between the DRC government and the M23 has intensified in recent months, with the rebels launching major offensives in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, capturing several key towns.

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The ongoing violence has displaced thousands, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the eastern DRC. Despite diplomatic and military efforts, the conflict persists.