GOMA, DR Congo (AFP) — The movement of rebel ex-general Laurent Nkunda and other militias on Wednesday signed an "act of engagement" for an immediate ceasefire in eastern DR Congo's Kivu provinces.
Kambasu Ngeze, lead negotiator for Nkunda's National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), was the first envoy from an armed group to sign the text.
The ceremony took place at the end of a peace conference that began on January 6 at Goma, the regional capital of Nord-Kivu, the province where much of the worst fighting has taken place.
Applause filled the conference venue as the text was signed.
President Joseph Kabila was present for the closing ceremony as delegates from other armed movements each in turn signed the landmark text providing for an immediate ceasefire and gradual troop withdrawals.
"We have won a great victory of the sceptics," Kabila said, whilst conceding there were "immense challenges" ahead.
The United States welcomed the peace agreement and urged all parties to ensure its prompt implementation.
"The United States welcomes the signing of a peace agreement with the goal of helping bring lasting stability to eastern Congo and addressing the underlying causes of the conflict," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said in a statement.
"We call on all parties to ensure urgent implementation of the agreement," Perino said, adding that Washington, working with the international community, would "continue to actively support the Congolese government's commitment to achieve peace and prosperity in eastern Congo."
The deal was also welcomed by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon in a statement issued from Geneva. Ban said he was "very encouraged by the commitment of the armed groups of North and South Kivu to end all hostilities."
The UN chief also appealed to all parties to "act quickly and effectively to implement agreements reached".
He also appealed to "the international community, particularly the DRC's neighbours in the Great Lakes region, to fully support the implementation of these commitments."
The document is the first public and official peace settlement for the two Kivu provinces, ravaged by conflict since the end of a war that raged across the whole Democratic Republic of Congo between 1998 and 2003.
It was presented by top conference officials to the warring sides on Monday in draft form, but the gathering had to be extended by two days before all the parties reached agreement.
National television, in live coverage of the event attended by hundreds of delegates from Nord- and Sud-Kivu, called the signing ceremony a "historic moment".
The nation has been riven by strife since 1996, when autocratic ruler Mobutu Sese Seko was ousted by Laurent-Desire Kabila, the current president's father, who was assassinated in 2001.
The violence in the two provinces has driven more than a million people in the region from their homes, particularly in the north.
The overall conference recommendations, were agreed by elected politicians, members of the different ethnic communities, local business people and other community players.
They make it clear that the support of the UN mission in the DRC, MONUC, the largest peacekeeping force deployed by the world body will be crucial.
Since August last year, though a truce was called for the duration of the conference, Nord-Kivu has seen incessant clashes between the DR Congo army.
Kabila has sent in 25,000 government troops to confront Nkunda's forces, estimated by observers in the UN mission in the DR Congo, at about 4,000.
The conflict has also embroiled warriors from different tribes who have formed local Mai Mai, and an estimated 6,000 Hutu rebels from neighbouring Rwanda, whom Nkunda regards as his main foes.
The Kigali government holds some of these Hutu exiles responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, when the United Nations estimates that nearly 800,000 people were killed, mainly Tutsis.
Sud-Kivu has seen clashes among the army, Congolese Tutsis like Nkunda, and Mai Mai forces. In their recommendations, delegates want UN peacekeeping forces to monitor the ceasefire and "make safe the return of the internally displaced and refugees".
In both provinces, villagers live in fear of uniformed men. Aid agencies, relief workers and rights groups have all reported widespread violations and atrocities, particularly the rape of women by both local and foreign fighters.
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