DR Congo: African leaders sign peace deal

24 February 2013 Last updated at 20:10 GMT

DR Congo peace accord is signed

Regional African leaders sign a UN-brokered accord which aims to bring peace to the troubled eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Ban Ki-moon: A 'significant event' Watch
• Q&A: DR Congo conflict
• Who are Congo's M23 rebels?
• The man who has treated 30,000 rape victims
• Democratic Republic of Congo profile

  
  

  The M23 rebels briefly seized control of the city of Goma in November last year
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  DR Congo Seeks Democracy

  • Weapon of war
  • Rebel kaleidoscope
  • UN under fire
  • Q&A: DR Congo's M23 rebels
  Regional African leaders have signed a UN-brokered accord which aims to bring peace to the troubled eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  The deal was signed in the presence of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
  He said he hoped it would bring "an era of peace and stability" to the region.
  As many as 800,000 people have been displaced since the March 23 rebel group took up arms against the Kinshasa government last May.
  "It is only the beginning of a comprehensive approach that will require sustained engagement," Mr Ban said.
  The agreement, signed by leaders and representatives of 11 countries of the Great Lakes region, may lead to the establishment of a special UN intervention brigade in eastern Congo, along with political efforts to bring peace.
  An initial attempt to get the peace agreement signed last month was called off at the last minute.
  Mineral riches Leaders from Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Republic and South Sudan were present at the signing in Addis Ababa.
  
  

  DR Congo deal 'a significant event'
  The M23 rebels say they want to improve living conditions for the people of eastern DR Congo, but the UN says they are supported by Rwanda, which has been heavily involved in its eastern neighbour since those responsible for the country's genocide fled there en masse in 1994.
  Bosco Ntaganda, who set up M23, was an officer in the Rwandan army before he left to join a rebel movement in DR Congo. The ICC accuses him of using child soldiers and the UN says he controls several mines in the east of the country.
  The group briefly seized control of the city of Goma last November after carving out an area for themselves in North Kivu province.
  Congo's government and rebels have been holding talks in Uganda aimed at reaching an agreement on a range of issues. In January, the rebels declared a unilateral ceasefire.
  An earlier attempt to reach a deal collapsed in December after the group accused President Joseph Kabila of failing to honour a deal to integrate rebels into the army.
  The region's mineral riches have been plundered by numerous groups and countries over the past 15 years and little has been spent on DR Congo's infrastructure.
  

  More on This Story

  DR Congo Seeks Democracy

  Goma crisis

  • Weapon of war

    The man who has treated 30,000 rape victims
    

    ---

  • Rebel kaleidoscope

  • UN under fire

  • Q&A: DR Congo's M23 rebels

  • 'Why we defected'

  • Rebel tactics

  • How rebels make their money

  • Heaven or hell?

  • Q&A: DR Congo conflict

  Troubled election

  • No end to the tears

  • Kabila victory questioned

  • Failed state: Can Congo recover?

  Background

  • Explore the depths of DR Congo

  • Profile: Joseph Kabila

  • No trains today

  • Can ICC bring peace?

  • Rape dilemma

  • DR Congo: Facts, figures and dates

  From other news sites

  • Almessa.net Regional leaders sign peace deal for eastern DR Congo 1 hr ago

  • Reuters UK UPDATE 3-African leaders sign deal aimed at peace in eastern Congo 2 hrs ago

  • Yahoo! UK and Ireland African leaders sign deal aimed at peace in eastern Congo 3 hrs ago

  • International Business Times UK African leaders sign deal to end eastern Congo conflict 11 hrs ago

  • Lebanon Daily Star Leaders to meet to sign DR Congo peace accord 38 hrs ago

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