The European Union sanctioned nine people and a gold refinery on Monday in connection with a Rwanda-backed rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a day before peace talks scheduled in Angola between M23 rebels and the Congolese government.

(Reuters) - Rwanda-backed M23 rebels said on Monday they would send a delegation to peace talks with Democratic Republic of Congo's government that are expected to begin on Tuesday in Angola's capital. (Reporting by Congo newsroom; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Congo's government will participate in peace talks in Angola on Tuesday with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group that has captured key areas of Congo’s mineral-rich east, a spokesperson said Monday.

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels said on Monday they would send a delegation to peace talks with Democratic Republic of Congo's government expected to begin on Tuesday in Angola's capital.The five-member delegation is expected to leave for Luanda on Monday for dialogue at the request of Angolan authorities,

The M23 rebels on Monday continued their offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo ahead of direct peace talks with the Congolese government in Angola, according to local media. The fighting approached the territorial capital of Walikale in the eastern province of North Kivu, Congolese news website Actualite reported.

Congo's government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are set to engage in peace talks in Angola. The conflict, which has displaced over 7 million people, has escalated with significant international involvement.

Democratic Republic of Congo will send a delegation to Angola on Tuesday for talks aiming to resolve a spiralling conflict against Rwandan-backed rebels in the east, the presidency said on Sunday. Angola said last week that direct peace talks between Congo and M23 rebels would begin in the Angolan capital Luanda on March 18.