The M23 was routed in a UN-backed offensive by government troops
The
Democratic Republic of Congo's president has signed a peace deal with
the M23 rebel movement his forces defeated last month, Kenya's
presidential spokesman says.
The accord was signed by President Joseph Kabila in the
presence of regional leaders in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, Manoah
Esipisu said. Last month, the government refused to sign a deal brokered by Uganda.
At least 800,000 people fled their homes during the conflict.
The M23 took up arms in eastern DR Congo in April 2012, accusing the government of marginalising the ethnic Tutsi minority and failing to honour previous peace accords.
It was defeated last month following a major offensive by government and United Nations (UN) forces.
The UN has more than 19,000 troops in DR Congo, with an attack force given the mandate of neutralising armed groups.
Mr Esipisu said on his Twitter account that the signing ceremony at State House in Nairobi was witnessed by several regional leaders attending celebrations to mark 50 years of Kenya's independence.
They included Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni and Malawi's President Joyce Banda, he said.
Mr Esipisu did not give details of the agreement or who signed it on behalf of the M23.
On 12 November the government refused to sign a deal with the M23 in Uganda's capital, Kampala.
It said it had a problem with the title of the Ugandan-mediated document, not its contents.
The document should be called a declaration not an accord as that gave too much credibility to the rebels, the government said at the time.
Eastern DR Congo has been wracked by conflict since 1994, when Hutu militias fled across the border from Rwanda after carrying out a genocide against Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
According the charity Oxfam, there are currently more than 30 other groups are operating in the east.
