Mediators optimistic on Congo talks

Peace talks between Congolese rebels and President Joseph Kabila’s government have achieved “tremendous progress”, chief mediators said on Wednesday.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa briefed President Kibaki at his Harambee House office in Nairobi on the progress made by parties to the conflict since the negotiations started on Monday.

A statement from the presidential press service stated the mediators told President Kibaki that tremendous progress had been achieved by representatives of President Kabila and rebel leader Laurent Nkunda.

Mr Obasanjo noted the two groups of negotiators had shown serious commitment to resolve the conflict in Eastern Congo and pledged to carry on with the negotiations until a lasting solution is found.

President Kibaki, who is also the Chair of Great Lakes Conference and the Congo Peace Process, congratulated the mediators for the achievements made so far and urged them to remain on course.

He noted the attainment of peace in Congo was imperative because it would extend to the whole of the Great Lakes region and beyond.

Those present

Others who attended the discussions were Kenya’s minister for Foreign Affairs Moses Wetang’ula and Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura.

The talks, known as “The Congo Dialogue” kicked off on Monday at the United Nations headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi.

The meeting sought to have the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) negotiate directly with the Congolese government on the modalities of ending the months of fighting in the country’s mineral-rich Eastern region.

Fighting has been going on since August 28 between CNDP and government troops. The peace talks scheduled to end on Wednesday were extended for a day.