DR Congo situation no better despite M23 accord: Belgium FM

_______________

KINSHASA - The security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has not improved despite an in-principle truce signed a month ago by the government and the M23 armed group, Belgium's top diplomat said on Tuesday.

Belgium had "confidence" in an ongoing, Qatar-mediated peace process between the two sides, "but we are also clear-eyed in recognising that a month later, the situation on the ground has not become any better," its foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, said on a visit to Kinshasa.

The Congolese government and the Rwanda-backed M23 signed a ceasefire agreement in July aimed at leading to a permanent end to the fighting that has devastated the DRC's mineral-rich but conflict-torn east.

Under the terms of the deal, which followed talks in Qatar, the parties were to begin peace talks on August 8 and finalise an agreement by August 18.

That deadline has slipped, but Qatar said Tuesday that both sides were still engaged in the peace process.

Prevost said that "a large number" of violent acts and killings had been committed in east DRC and called for the truce agreement to be implemented.

He was speaking in a press conference alongside the speaker of the DRC parliament, Vital Kamerhe.

Prevost was making his visit to the former Belgian colony as part of an African tour that started in the neighbouring Republic of Congo, and which will continue with stops in Kenya and Ethiopia.