Peace accord signed for Congo

(Vatican Radio) A long-awaited international agreement toward peace in eastern Congo was signed yesterday. The United Nations was pivotal in the negotiation of the peace accord, aimed at ending two decades of conflict.

The people in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, worn by nearly two decades of bloodshed, are hopeful that a peace accord signed Sunday will bring stability to the resource-rich area.

The so-called Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement was brokered by the United Nations and signed in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was present for the signing by representatives of 11 African countries; rebel groups were not among the signatories.

The UN Secretary General said the accord is part of a continuing peace process in the African Great Lakes region, which will require a “comprehensive approach” and “sustained engagement”.

While a group of 46 prominent international humanitarian organizations operating in the Great Lakes region laud the peace effort, they also jointly issued a policy paper suggesting additional measures that must be taken for the agreement to stick.

Danilo Giannese, communications and advocacy officer for Jesuit Relief Services, spoke to Vatican Radio from Goma.

The agreement signed represents a “good step,” he said. “But at the same time, we think that this agreement should be implemented with other measures, for example, the appointment of a high-profile UN envoy, in order to guarantee that the agreement will be acted (upon).”

As well, Congolese civil society, which up until now has been excluded from in the peace process, should be included in its implementation. Finally, donor countries must commit to aid and support for countries in the region.

Furthermore, he said, “some of the nations who signed the agreement yesterday have been officially accused by the United Nations of supporting rebel groups” in Congo.

“It is important therefore to keep these nations committed truly to the peace and security in eastern Congo,” he emphasized.

The agreement also paves the way for the deployment of a new UN-backed military contingent to take on rebel groups.

Congo's army is currently fighting M23 rebels, who renewed violence and fighting in eastern Congo last May and dominate the North Kivu province. Their goals include the removal from office of Congolese President Joseph Kabila. In November, the rebels seized the provincial capital Goma, but have since left the city to open the way for peace talks with the Congolese government.

These separate talks, being held in Uganda under a March 15 deadline, are aimed at reaching an agreement on a range of economic, political and security issues, including amnesty for "war and insurgency acts", and the release of political prisoners.

Listen to the report by Laura Ieraci: