DRC

AU to hold summit as concern rises for 1.6 million displaced

Article published on the 2008-11-02 Latest update 2008-11-03 06:35 TU

Refugees walk back to their home near Goma
(Photo: Reuters)

Tanzania's Foreign Minister, Bernard Membe, has said a summit will be held next week in Nairobi as part of diplomatic efforts to stem recent fighting in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The meeting will aim to bring the DRC's President Joseph Kabila and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to the same table. This to discuss last week's fighting that saw renegade general Laurent Nkunda approach Goma, the regional capital of North-Kivu, before declaring a unilateral ceasefire.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and his British counterpart David Miliband have met with Tanzanian President and African Union Chairman Jakaya Kikwete. This follows their talks on Saturday with the leaders of the DRC and Rwanda.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame is expected to send an envoy to Dar es Salaam on Monday and Kabila is to send a representative for Tuesday.

Miliband said on Sunday  that more than 1.6 million people had been displaced and were "without food, water and other necessities".

Monoj Mounoubhai, of the UN mission in the DRC, said the head of the mission Alan Doss had spoken to renegade leader Laurent Nkunda on Saturday.