{United Nations envoys and their diplomatic counterparts have voiced regret that peace talks between the M23 rebel group and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) could not be concluded on Monday evening. }
The joint statement by the Secretary-General Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, Mary Robinson, his Special Representative for DRC, Martin Kobler, United States Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region and the DRC Russ Feingold, African Union Special Representative Boubacar Diarra, and European Union Senior Coordinator for the Great Lakes region Koen Vervaeke comes nearly a week after the group welcomed the announcement by the M23 that it is ending its bloody insurgency against the DRC Government.
The talks in the Ugandan capital of Kampala were aimed at reaching a final and principled agreement that ensures the disarmament and demobilization of the M23 and accountability for human rights abuses.
“The Envoys note that the parties have expressed no differences on substantive points within the draft document. However, agreement on the format has not yet been reached. Despite a change in the military situation, it is important that there be a political conclusion to the dialogue,” said the statement.
“The Envoys further emphasize that any solution must allow the pursuit of accountability for those who have committed war crimes, crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, including those involving sexual violence and recruitment of child soldiers, and other gross violations of human rights.”
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