UN urges progress in talks between DR Congo, rebels

UN envoys on Monday urged progress in the peace negotiations between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebels in an effort to stop fighting in the mineral rich eastern part of the country. The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative in the DRC, Martin Kobler, and Ban's Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, Mary Robinson, briefed the Security Council by videoconference at a meeting here. The two parties reached consensus on eight out of the 12 articles of the draft agreement under discussion, said Robinson. However, they could not agree on certain contentious and difficult issues that had remained problematic throughout the talks, namely the amnesty, disarmament and integration of M23. Peace negotiations between the government and M23 rebels resumed on Sept. 10 in the Ugandan Kampala. According to UN, the talks are under the auspices of the Chairperson of the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, the mediator, as well as Ugandan Defense Minister and Facilitator, Crispus Kiyonga. During several days of negotiations since Oct. 17, both sides were able to agree on the following issues: the release of prisoners; the end of M23 as a rebel movement and the possibility to establish itself as a political party; the return and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs); and the return of extorted and looted properties during the M23's brief occupation of Goma in November 2012. Robinson noted that the parties have agreed to reconvene "soon" to overcome their differences. Also speaking to the Council, Kobler said it was incredible that the "unique opportunity" could not be seized and called on the parties to reengage with the peace efforts. "I urge particularly the M23 to use the dynamics of the last few days to more constructively and without delay to sort out in the next few days the remaining issues and bring back peace to the eastern DRC," said Kobler, who is also the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). Noting the situation on the ground remained volatile and of great concern, the UN envoy said he sought to support efforts towards "only a fair agreement, not necessarily a perfect agreement" and echoed Robinson in commending the government of the DRC and the facilitator for their "constructive attitudes." In the past year, clashes have continued sporadically throughout eastern DRC. Mediated by Uganda, the talks between the government and the rebels have repeatedly stalled since December last year. The fighting has displaced more than 100,000 people, exacerbating an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region which includes 2.6 million internally displaced persons and 6.4 million others in need of food and emergency aid.