Kinshasa - September 23, 2008 (7pm) – A precarious calm returned this Tuesday in North Kivu, and in particular in Sake, a town some 20km from Goma, and in its surroundings, which were the scene of intense clashes between the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) and troops of the Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple (CNDP). This Tuesday, the weapons are silent and no clashes have been reported.

The Amani Programme Steering Committee met today in Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province, under the Presidency of the DRC Minister of the Interior Mr. Denis Kalume Numbi, gathering the Congolese authorities, the Amani Programme Coordinator Reverened Malu Malu, MONUC, represented by Alan Doss accompanied by the Force Commander General Babacar Gaye, as well as other members of the international facilitation team.

On the agenda of the Steering Committee meeting, the first since 7 August last, was the modalities for the consolidation of the ceasefire and the implementation of the disengagement plan.

It should be noted that during the meeting, the Committee in particular was pleased with the declaration made by the armed groups who are signatories to the Goma Act of Engagement for South Kivu, by which the latter are solemnly engaged to move quickly to disengagement, for the restoration of state authority and actions aimed at facilitating the return of internally displaced persons and refugees.