The first opportunity for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo came on Sunday as the leader of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), Laurent Nkunda, agreed to a ceasefire in the most unstable region of the country, North Kivu. Although clashes between the CNDP and the Congolese army have continued in some areas, today Tutsi rebels began to withdraw from two fronts in North Kivu, moving away from army positions and allowing UN peacekeeping forces to be deployed.

The ceasefire agreement has been facilitated by UN special envoy Olusegun Obasanjo and may soon lead to talks and the nomination of a ceasefire monitor. Meanwhile Obasanjo has met with the presidents of Congo, Joseph Kabila, and Rwanda, Paul Kagame, asking for their co-operation in stopping violence escalating into fully-fledged warfare and a repeat of the bloody conflict that destroyed the region between 1998 and 2003.

Laurent Nkunda argues that his military activity in North Kivu is the only way to protect Tutsis from attacks by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), the Hutu militia that controls a large part of the region.

Further information:

• Reuters: Congo rebels say pulling back to help peace effort
• AFP: DRCongo rebel leader agrees to ceasefire, monitoring body
• MónDivers: El líder rebel congolès accepta un alto el foc a la regió del Kivu