From: Office of Terje Rod-Larsen < Subject: IPI Regional Insights - November 2013 Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 22:00:05 +0000 INTERNATIONAL PEACE INSTITUTE IPI Regional Insights November 2013 The International Peace Institute's (IPI) Regional Insights covers select regional and thematic developments based on information from a variety of sources. It draws on the research of IPI experts and is provided exclusively to major donors and members. Each monthly issue covers challenges and opportunities related to international peace, security, and development. Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo: The M23 rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) surrendered on November 6th, following a military defeat against the Congolese armed forces and UN troops that forced M23 leaders and most of its fighters (estimated at around 1,500) into neighboring Uganda. This military victory created momentum for a political deal. However, the peace deal that the government of the DRC and the M23 were widely expected to sign on November 18th fell apart at the last moment when the two failed to agree on whether they were signing an "agreement" or a "declaration." Part of the reason is that Kinshasa believes its military victory over the M23 has changed the terms of the settlement. But beyond the title of the deal itself, two major issues will have to be ironed out over the next few weeks: the conditions for a possible integration of some M23 fighters into the Congolese armed forces, and whether and who among the M23 leaders would get amnesty as part of such a deal. Adding to the complexity of finalizing the Kampala negotiations, the M23 announced on November 13th a split into two factions, with a new branch referring to themselves as "realists" led by M23 political leader Serge Kambasu Ngeve indicating that it was ready to sign a "declaration." The military head of M23 Sultani Makenga, who is on the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee list, did not offer an