United Nations Radio

Special envoy for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Alan Doss, has welcomed an agreement signed Monday in Goma by the Congolese government and the armed National Congress for the Defense of the People, the CNDP.

Alan Doss

The agreement calls for an end to the fighting in northeastern DRC, the transformation of armed groups into political parties and the integration of their officials into national political life. It also provides for the safe return of internally displaced persons.
While welcoming the agreement, special envoy Doss said that what matters most now is its implementation.
He urged the parties to move speedily toward realizing the agreement to stop the suffering of the civilian population and end impunity.
And he pledged UN support toward these goals.
Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reports that another 11,000 civilians were forced to flee their homes in recent weeks due to attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army -LRA in Province Orientale. A total of 188,000 civilians have now been uprooted by the insecurity in the region and LRA attacks have claimed close to 1,000 lives, while the rebels have abducted some 750 civilians since September.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

duration: 1'09"