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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DRC: Mayi-Mayi, RCD-Goma begin reconciliation efforts

KINSHASA, 11 September 2003 (IRIN) - Mayi-Mayi militias and fighters of the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) former rebel movement began reconciliation efforts on Tuesday in Burale, 60 km southeast of Bukavu in South Kivu Province of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country's UN peacekeeping mission, MONUC, reported.

The new political leader of the Mayi-Mayi, Marcel Munga, confirmed the report, saying that a joint mission of six military officials from the two movements had been sent to the field to begin the peace-building process.

"It was in the spirit of reconciliation, characterised by the newly-inaugurated joint military leadership, that this mission was mounted to bring an end to hostilities," Munga told IRIN.

"By order of the military leadership, Maj-Gen Sylvain Buki, formerly of RCD-Goma, and his colleague, Padiri Bulenda, formerly of the Mayi-Mayi militia and commander of one of the military regions, the Third Brigade of the Mayi-Mayi and the Tenth Brigade of RCD-Goma, both of whom occupy part of the Walungu territory, came together at the same table on Tuesday in Burale to discuss reconciliation," MONUC's Radio Okapi reported.

Okapi said the team would be responsible for creating a joint police force with soldiers from the two factions.

Despite the participation of both the Mayi-Mayi and RCD-Goma in the Congo's newly-inaugurated two-year transitional government and unified national military, ostensibly bringing an end to over four years of war, fighting has persisted between the two groups.

During the war, the Mayi-Mayi fought against Rwanda and Uganda troops on Congolese territory, as well as against RCD-Goma, an ally of Rwanda.

[See also IRIN's recent interview with Mayi-Mayi political leader Marcel Munga]

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict

[ENDS]

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