African leaders sign delayed Congo peace deal ending two decades of conflict

M23 rebels

wikipedia-Gabe Joselow

African leaders sign a UN-mediated peace deal ending two decades of conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo after a series of delays.

The "African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, Southern African Development Community Chairs, as well as 10 Heads of States of the region will attend the signing ceremony," said Rwandan Deputy UN Ambassador Olivier when announcing the move, initially scheduled for February 24. 

"All the invited presidents have committed to either be there or delegate power to sign," confirmed Martin Nesirky, a spokesman of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who will also be present at the ceremony.

Under the peace deal, the so-called intervention brigade will be contained within the existing UN peacekeeping force in Congo, known as MONUSCO. 

Peace talks between the Congolese government and the March 23 Movement (M23) began in December after the rebels withdrew from the eastern provincial capital of Goma in line with the demands of regional leaders.