Congo, Rwanda agree on plan to tackle armed groups

Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and their Great Lakes region neighbors have reached agreement on a plan to ``eradicate'' armed groups in eastern Congo, a Congolese delegation said on Thursday.

The document was signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa by nearly a dozen regional states, who met on the sidelines of an African Union summit.

They agreed to tackle a rebellion in Congo's North Kivu province, which has raised tensions in the region and displaced thousands of civilians.

``I think it is positive. The most important thing is putting it into effect,'' Congolese foreign minister Raymond Tshibanda N'tungamulongo said.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had on Wednesday voiced concern over the activities of armed groups in Congo.

Mr Ban Ki-Moon drew the attention of Rwandan government to UN reports which alleged its involvement in the insurgency.

The UN reports had alleged that the Rwandan government was training and arming the rebels in Kivu province in Congo.

Reuters/Hauwa Abu