DR Congo, M23 rebels peace talks suspended again
Date 2013/10/22 17:19:09 | Topic: Democratic Republic of the Congo
| Peace talks between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the March 23 movement (M23) rebels have been suspended over disagreements on the rebel’s amnesty.
The halt in the talks was announced on Monday by both sides, just hours after UN envoys warned about the dangers of the fighting in the volatile east of the country.
According to the Congolese government spokesman, Lambert Mende, the stalemate came after disagreement over the extent of an amnesty for the M23 rebels and their integration into the national army.
M23 delegate, Roger Lumbala, described the deadlock as a "blockage," saying the rebels were ready to go back to the talks, which are taking place in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
Earlier, the UN special envoys voiced their concern over the lack of a comprehensive deal that would lead to the demobilization of M23 rebels.
"The envoys are concerned at the volatility in the region and hope that additional progress on the significant remaining issues can be made in the coming days," they said in a statement, adding, "The envoys further warn against any acts of provocation and urge the parties to exert maximum restraint on the ground in order for the dialogue to conclude."
Several armed groups, including the M23 rebels, are active in the east of the DRC, fighting for control of the country’s vast mineral resources, such as gold, the main tin ore cassiterite, and coltan (columbite-tantalite).
Since early May 2012, nearly 3 million people have fled their homes in the eastern Congo. About 2.5 million have resettled in Congo, but more than 460,000 have crossed into neighboring Rwanda and Uganda.
Congo has faced numerous problems over the past few decades, such as grinding poverty, crumbling infrastructure, and a war in the east of the country that has dragged on since 1998 and left over 5.5 million people dead.
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