The Trump Administration Rejects Adam Boehler’s Nomination for the Position of Hostage Affairs

Adam Boehler’s candidacy as a hostage envoy has been revoked by the Trump administration, but he will remain in his current position.

The White House said on Saturday that Adam Boehler’s candidacy as the Trump administration’s special presidential envoy for hostage problems had been withdrawn.

Boehler will continue his work on hostages as a so-called “special government employee,” a role that would not require Senate confirmation. Boehler has been attempting to obtain the release of captives held by Hamas in Gaza.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated in a statement that Adam Boehler will remain President Trump’s special government employee tasked with hostage talks.

Tina Salama, the spokesman for the presidency, stated, “At this point, we cannot say who will make up the delegation.”

Lawrence Kanyuka, M23’s spokesperson, stated on X on Sunday that the organization has confirmed receiving Angola’s offer, but he did not specify if it would take part.

Following the announcement of the talks, M23 issued a number of demands, one of which was for Tshisekedi to publicly declare his intention to engage in direct negotiations with them.

Angola has been working to alleviate tensions between Congo and Rwanda, a neighbor that has been accused of supporting the Tutsi-led rebel group, and mediate a long-term ceasefire.

Rwanda disputes the claims.

The genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994 and the fight for control of Congo’s abundant natural resources are the main causes of the war that has plagued eastern Congo for decades.

This year, it became much more intense, with M23 capturing territory it had never held previously, including the two largest cities in east Congo as well as numerous smaller towns.

According to the Congo’s government, since January, the conflict has claimed at least 7,000 lives.

The UN humanitarian affairs office reports that since November, the conflict has caused at least 600,000 people to be displaced.

In order to establish a favorable atmosphere for the negotiations, Angolan President Joao Lourenco called on all sides to stop fighting at midnight on Saturday.

In a statement, he stated that “the ceasefire must include all possible hostile actions against the civilian population and the occupation of new positions.”

In the past, Congo and M23 have accused one another of breaking ceasefires on numerous occasions.

Conflicts in the Walikale area were reported by a local authority on Sunday, suggesting that fighting had not halted.