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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DRC: Mayi-Mayi, RCD-Goma sign ceasefire in Shabunda

NAIROBI, 3 October 2003 (IRIN) - An agreement to cease hostilities between forces of Gen David Padiri Bulenda's Mayi-Mayi militia and the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) former rebel movement - both now parties to a national power-sharing government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) - was signed on Wednesday in Shabunda, South Kivu Province, under the mediation of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, known as MONUC.

The accord calls for an immediate ceasefire, the free circulation of persons and goods, and the creation of a follow-up commission comprising three members from each of the two sides to monitor implementation of the agreement, MONUC reported on Thursday from the national capital, Kinshasa. It said a date and location for this commission would be announced shortly.

The agreement was signed by Padiri and Col Fataki, formerly of the RCD-Goma,in the presence of MONUC's sector five commander, Col Lawrence Smith.

Padiri, one of the most prominent leaders of the Mayi-Mayi militias in eastern DRC, was inaugurated on 5 September into the leadership of the country's newly-unified national military and given responsibility for one of the country's 10 military regions. Padiri then delegated political leadership of the Mayi-Mayi to one of his former chief military advisers, Marcel Munga. [See IRIN interview with Munga]

Fataki is now commander of the second infantry brigade of the new unified Congolese National Army (Armee Nationale Congolaise).

According to MONUC, the Mayi-Mayi, RCD-Goma and MONUC delegations then visited Lulingu, 90 km north of Shabunda, where the announcement of their peace accord was "warmly welcomed by the local population".

[See earlier IRIN story, "Mayi-Mayi, RCD-Goma begin reconciliation efforts"]

Theme(s): (IRIN) Conflict

[ENDS]

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