Two groups sign a peace agreement in the DRC

Kinshasa – The leaders of the two ethnic groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed an agreement to end a conflict that has killed hundreds and tens of thousands displaced, a local activist said.
Violence since May 2013 in southeastern Congo between militias representing the Luba ethnic group Bantu and Twa, included large-scale massacres.
David Luhaka Ngoy, a priest and a member of the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace, said the leaders of both communities had signed the agreement outside the town of Kalemie.
He said he was confident that the agreement would help reduce conflicts between Twa and Luba, but warned that lobbying by politicians remained a concern.
Code of commitment
The agreement establishes joint committees to examine the differences and find peaceful solutions, he added.
“Committee members have signed a code of the commitment they are neutral, they would be impartial and that they would respect human rights,” said Luhaka.
Thirty-four people from both groups face charges of genocide and crimes against humanity by a Congolese court on violence.