Congo and M23 rebels sign agreement to demobilize rebels, allow them to become political party

NAIROBI, Kenya – Congo and the so-called M23 rebels have signed a peace agreement that will see the insurgent group demobilize its fighters and transform itself into a political party.

Kenya's Presidency said Thursday President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, who is the chairman of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, and President Joyce Banda of Malawi oversaw the signing ceremony in Nairobi.

The agreements also foresee that members of the M23 insurgency will be granted an amnesty for acts of war. The agreements also allow for the return of refugees.

M23 launched its rebellion in in eastern Congo in April 2012, becoming the latest reincarnation of a Tutsi rebel group dissatisfied with the Congolese government.