*

Angola says peace talks to begin in Luanda on March 18

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Congo has so far refused direct negotiations with rebels

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M23 lists demands for dialogue

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'Phased withdrawal' for Southern African troops in Congo

(Adds Congo presidency statement in paragraphs 5-6; M23 demands

paragraphs 10-12; Alphamin Resources ( AFMJF ) halting tin mine operations

paragraph 18)

KINSHASA, March 13 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of

Congo is considering sending representatives to peace talks with

the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group that Angola plans to host next

week, two government sources said on Thursday, as the rebels

listed demands to the mediation team.

Angola has been trying to mediate a lasting ceasefire and

reduce tensions between Congo and neighbouring Rwanda, which has

been accused of backing the Tutsi-led M23 rebels. Rwanda denies

those allegations.

On Wednesday, Angola's presidency announced direct talks

between Congo and M23 would begin in Luanda on Tuesday. The

dialogue would mark Congo's first direct negotiations with M23.

President Felix Tshisekedi has until now rejected direct

talks with M23 and the government has not officially confirmed

its participation.

The talks show "Angola's desire to help our region find a

way out of the crisis," Tshisekedi said in a Congo presidency

post on X.

"It is crucial that the decisions taken on this occasion are

rapidly translated into concrete action on the ground."

Two government sources told Reuters on Thursday that the

latest Angolan proposal was being seriously considered.

"This is a process that is beginning. Kinshasa wants it to

be short but it could be long, and it will be up to the head of

state to decide on the people who will represent the government

side," one of the sources said.

"Even if there is direct contact with M23, this will not

exclude Kigali's responsibility," another source said.

M23 welcomed Angola's initiative but asked Tshisekedi to

publicly express his commitment to directly negotiating with the

group.

In a statement on Thursday, the rebels also demanded a

mediation team and clarity on how resolutions adopted at a joint

summit of Eastern and Southern African blocs last month would be

implemented.

"Only direct negotiations can pave the way for a lasting

solution to the ongoing crisis," the statement said.

ALLIES WITHDRAW

The news came as the Southern African Development Community

said a summit of regional heads of state had terminated the

mandate of its troop deployment in Congo, known as SAMIDRC, and

decided on a phased withdrawal.

The announcement is a potential further blow to Tshisekedi,

who has faced criticism of his handling of M23's latest advance.

SADC deployed its mission in Congo, a major producer of

cobalt and copper, in December 2023 with a one-year mandate that

was renewed last year. It was helping Congo's government fight

rebel groups.

But a document seen by Reuters in February said the status

of the bloc's mission to Congo needed to be discussed with

parties to the conflict.

The M23 rebels have seized east Congo's two biggest cities

since January in an escalation of a long-running conflict rooted

in the spillover into Congo of Rwanda's 1994 genocide and the

struggle for control of Congo's vast mineral resources.

Alphamin Resources ( AFMJF ) said on Thursday it had

temporarily halted its tin mine in Congo's volatile eastern

region as rebels advance toward the operations.