It was not the most auspicious of starts. When eastern Congo's peace conference finally opened on January 6th in the town of Goma after several delays due to logistics, it had no mandate to negotiate a settlement or any other clear aim. But after a fortnight of negotiation, a peace agreement has been signed that may end-or at least put on hold-a particularly vicious conflict. In the past year about 450,000 people have been made homeless by fighting in North Kivu province. One aid organisation says that 45,000 Congolese die every month due to the country's conflicts.
展开▼
