{The Uganda government has cancelled a press briefing which was scheduled for Tuesday morning in Kampala to explain circumstances under which a peace deal that was set to be signed between the DRC government and the M23 rebel Movement flopped.}
The peace agreement was expected to see the DRC government commit itself to addressing the issues that sparked off the 2009 insurrection in the eastern part of war-torn country.
It would also determine the fate of M23 combatants who chose to renounce rebellion as demanded by the international community as one way of putting an end to the crisis in Kivu.
However, the DRC delegation led by Minister Raymond Tshibanda refused to sign the documents, calling for the removal of the word “agreement.” Tshibanda said DRC needed more time to consult on the issue and that “some difficulties should be removed before finalizing the process.”
Earlier, it was reported that Kinshasha officials had expressed determination not to “sign an agreement with a non-existent entity.” Government publicist, Ofwono Opondo on Monday night said the “DRC delegation has aborted the signing of agreement with M23.”
At the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday morning, government was expected to reveal when the two parties will meet again. DRC insists that M23 commanders including Brig Sultani Makenga should be handed over for prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The M23 has since called for amnesty for all its militants as a confidence building measure to spearhead a comprehensive reconciliation process. Sources said Defence Minister, Crispus Kiyonga, who has been the mediator of the talks that started last year, labored to convince the DRC officials to sign the agreement in vain.
“Kiyonga and President Museveni who spearheaded the talks are angry with DRC’s conduct. We do not know where this will take the relations between the two countries,” said a source at State House, Entebbe on Tuesday.
chimpreports.com
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