DRC: Regional Leaders Sign Peace Deal

By Staff Writer

ADDIS ABABA--Leaders from Africa’s Great Lakes regional nations have signed a new peace agreement set to restore stability to the restive eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The new deal was signed on Sunday at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by leaders from the eleven African countries, in a ceremony attended by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania, signed the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the entire Region.

The peace agreement is foreseen to establish a special UN intervention brigade in eastern Congo to help renew political efforts and restore peace in the region ravaged by rebel groups.

 Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mr Ban expressed earnest hope that the deal will restore peace in the area, calling on regional African leaders to provide sustained support to implement the deal.

“It is my earnest hope that the Framework will lead to an era of peace and stability for the peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region,” he said. “I therefore call for your sustained political, technical and financial support, especially over the long-term, to accompany the implementation of the national and regional commitments outlined in the Framework.”

The UN, the African Union, the 11-country International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, and the 14-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) will act as guarantors in the peace deal.

The deal follows talks between the DRC government and the M23 rebel group mediated by east African regional group in neighbouring Uganda which began in late November, following clashes that had threatened to draw the country back to war.

The M23 rebels have been fighting government troops in eastern DR Congo since they deserted their ranks in the Congolese army in April, over failed promises by the President Joseph Kabila government.

The Kampala negotiations were aimed to settle the wider economic, political and security concerns that were seen to divide rebels with the Kinshasa government.

The UN Security Council has welcomed the deal, saying its members though remain “deeply concerned” over the worsening security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC.

In a statement on Sunday, the 15-member council demanded the immediate cease of violence and destabilising activities by all armed groups plying the region.

East DR Congo has been plagued by several armed groups seeking to control the mineral-rich region, in the conflict that has implicated neighbouring nations said to be backing the rebels.

The UN mission in Congo, MONUSCO is expected to reinforce its current 17,000-strong force with a further 2,500 troops under the intervention brigade to tackle the armed groups in the east.

The UN say over 2.6 million people have been internally displaced in across DR Congo in the on-going unrests.

To improve the protection of civilians in the conflict areas, the UN has proposed using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) knowns as “drones” to collect information for the UN Force Commander and to promote deterrence.