UN chief arrives in Goma, DRC

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Goma, eastern Democratic republic of Congo, hours after a rebel group fighting government forces nearby said they would impose a cease-fire to permit the visit to proceed.

The M23 rebels and the Congolese army had been fighting for three days in Mutaho, about 15km from Goma. An M23 spokesperson said on Wednesday evening the group will hold fire to allow the visit.

“We also want to give peace a chance and ask the government to come back to the negotiating table in Kampala,” said Amani Kabasha, the M23 spokesperson.

The M23 rebels, who are backed by Rwanda and Uganda according to several UN reports, took Goma in November before pulling out 10 days later under international pressure. Talks in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, have stalled.