Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Goma (Agenzia Fides)- The 22 January should mark the closing of a Conference for peace in north and south Kivu being held in Goma, main city of northern Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (see Fides 8/1/2008). This was announced by the chairman of the Conference Rev Appolinaire Malu Malu, a Catholic priest who in the past has presided the country's independent electoral Commission. The Conference opened on 6 January and participants include representatives of various guerrilla groups which operate in the region, including the Peoples National Congress for Defence led by rebel general Laurent Nkunda, a key figure in some of the fiercest clashes in recent months.
Rev Appollinaire says there are still some points of view to be 'harmonised' but the sides are close to coming to an agreement.
However the negotiations are not easy as we can see from the fact that the Conference was set to end on Sunday 20 January, then the 21 and now because of ulterior difficulties it has been extended for another 24 hours.
People who follow the Conference are concerned that some armed groups may have questioned commitments already settled, and reports of fresh clashes continue to arrive. One point of discussion is a n amnesty for Nkunda (see Fides 13/12/2007).
While the Conference goes ahead, fighting continues. According to army sources in the past few days in north Kivu dozens of civilians were killed in fighting between rebels commanded by former Tutsi general Laurent Nkunda and Mai-Mai pro-government militia. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/1/2008 righe 23 parole 3oo)
