Congo’s government says it will participate in peace talks in Angola with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group that has captured key areas of Congo’s mineral-rich east

The Rwanda-backed militia’s decision followed European Union sanctions over three senior Rwandan military officials, five senior leaders of the M23, and a gold refinery announced earlier on Monday, as criticism grows of Kigali’s backing of the group that has seized two major Congolese cities.

M23 rebels withdraw from peace talks with the Congo government, citing international sanctions as a barrier to dialogue.