Congo peace accord signed in Pretoria

Pretoria, Dec 17: Delegates to talks on the future of Democratic Republic of Congo signed an agreement early on Tuesday to end four years of brutal warfare and set up a government of national unity. The agreement will see President Joseph Kabila remain as head of state during a two-year run-up to the first elections since those on independence from Belgium in 1960.

He will be seconded by four vice presidents — not named in the agreement — representing the government, each of the two main rebel movements and the unarmed opposition.

Ministries will be split among the various parties.

The agreement was signed by exhausted delegates representing the Kinshasa government, rebels, militias, opposition politicians and civil society after last-minute negotiations continued virtually non-stop from Sunday through to early Tuesday. Bureau Report