A much-anticipated peace deal signing between Kinshasa and the M23 rebels was yesterday suspended after the Congolese delegation snubbed the meeting.Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni presided over the meeting, also attended by heads of diplomatic missions.The DR Congo delegation was headed by Foreign Affairs minister Raymond Tshibanda, while M23 political head Betrand Bisimwa led his delegation.“For some strange reasons, the DR Congo team didn’t enter the meeting room and have not communicated what they are disputing in the agreement,” Ofwono Opondo, the Ugandan Government spokesperson, told reporters shortly after the meeting.“We have, therefore, adjourned the meeting until further notice; we still hope that the peace deal will be signed and total peace return to eastern DR Congo.”Although, the DR Congo team said they needed time to consult, it is understood that the draft agreement was handed over to both delegations five days ago.The UN Special Envoy for Great Lakes Region, Mary Robinson, was optimistic that the deal would be followed by operations to neutralise other rebel units operating in the mineral-rich region.She said regional countries were committed to a wider accord to address the root causes of one of Africa’s most brutal and longest-running wars.The M23 rebels declared an end to their rebellion, last week, after being overrun by the Congolese army backed by UN troops.Unconfirmed reports said the amnesty issue is the main contention that led to the postponement of the signing.
