United Nations-backed peace talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a main rebel militia began Tuesday.
The talks were aimed at ending fighting in eastern DRC's North Kivu province between the government and the rebel National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP).
The talks, held at UN headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, are being facilitated by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and the UN secretary-general's special envoy for DRC conflict, former Tanzanian leader Benjamin Mkapa, who represents the African Union and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.
"In their opening remarks to the talks, the two envoys urged participants to find a workable solution to the political and humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC," UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York. The talks are expected to continue Wednesday.
DRC President Joseph Kabila and the CNDP leader, General Laurent Nkunda, did not participate in the talks.
Escalating conflict between DRC forces (FARDC) and the CNDP has displaced an estimated 250,000 people since late August, mainly in North Kivu province, which borders Rwanda and Uganda.
Other armed groups, including the Mayi Mayi, have also been involved in deadly clashes in the country.
The CNDP declared a ceasefire after reaching the gates of North Kivu's provincial capital Goma in late October. The truce has been generally respected by both the rebels and the army, leading to more than a month of relative calm in the area.
But clashes continue between Nkunda's fighters, Mayi Mayi militia and Rwandan Hutu rebels.
In a related development, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday reported that the transfer of refugees from Kibati, on the northern outskirts of Goma, to more secure camps is continuing.
An estimated 9,000 people have recently fled to Kibati and there have been reports of looting in several villages in the past week
Source:Xinhua
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