Peace Talks Start, but Some Key Players Absent
Congo peace talks finally began in South Africa, but some key players in the conflict were missing.
More than 300 delegates from parties involved in the complex war gathered in the resort town of Sun City. The Ugandan-backed rebels of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo, however, were not present, and no reason was given.
The facilitator of the talks, former Botswana President Ketumile Masire, said dialogue would continue despite the absences.
Congo has been locked in war since 1998, when rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda invaded. Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia joined in to help prop up the government.
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