UN envoys urge M23 to give up rebellion

A team of special envoys led by the United Nations on Monday voiced their concerns at the renewed outbreak of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and urged M23 rebels to renounce its rebellion as already agreed. In a joint statement, the team, led by Mary Robinson, the UN secretary-general's special envoy to the Great Lakes Region, said they noted the announced cessation of hostilities between the M23 rebel group and the DRC government, adding that the announced cessation is a "first and necessary step to peace." The M23 should renounce its rebellion as already agreed while the DRC government should restrain from further military action at this stage, the envoys said. They urged both parties to remain committed to seeing the political process through to a final and principled agreement that ensures the disarmament and demobilization of the M23 and accountability for human rights abuses. Talks between the M23 and the DRC government are being held in Kampala, Uganda. The M23, composed of a breakaway faction of soldiers from the DRC's national army, recently seized seven towns in North Kivu province and intensified attacks on schools, hospitals, homes and other civilian targets.