Peace plan timetable

The signing of the Lusaka ceasefire agreement by the 50 founding members of the rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD) on Tuesday completes the formal acceptance of the
accord by the parties involved in the DRC conflict.

Following is the implementation timetable set out in the agreement:

24 hours after the signing - parties are to cease hostilities, including hostile propaganda.

0-7 days - warring parties are to establish a Joint Military Commission (JMC), responsible for peace-keeping until the deployment of a UN/OAU force.

3 days - release of hostages.

7-30 days - release or exchange of prisoners of war, with ICRC
involvement.

14 days - "Disengagement" of opposing forces in areas where they are in direct contact.

15 days - selection of a neutral facilitator for all-inclusive
inter-Congolese national negotiations on the political future of the country, the formation of a new army and the organisation of democratic elections.

15-30 days - parties are to redeploy their forces to defensive positions.

30 days - OAU observers are to be "mobilised".

30-120 days - disarmament of ex-FAR, Interahamwe, Allied Democratic Front (ADF) and other armed groups in the DRC that are not signatories to the agreement.

45 days - start of inter-Congolese negotiations, to last for up to six weeks.

91 days - upon conclusion of the inter-Congolese negotiations, "new institutions" to be set up.

90-270 days - state administration is to be reestablished throughout the country.

120 days - deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission.

180 days - final withdrawal of all belligerent foreign forces, in
accordance with a withdrawal schedule to be prepared by the UN, OAU and JMC.

30-365 days - parties are to take measures to "normalise" the security situation along the international borders, including the control of illicit arms trafficking and infiltration of armed groups.