A week after fresh fighting erupted in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, civil society organisations in Goma organised a symbolic shut down of the city on October 1st 2008.

Normal activities came to a halt as shops, banks and offices were all closed with even school children remaining at home.

“We declared the ‘city dead’ because we want to call on all parties to adhere to the Amani (peace) Program. We are also urging all armed groups to do the same and respect the disengagement plan” said Mr Jason Luneno, Civil Society President of North Kivu Province.

“Armed groups currently involved in the protracted rebellion in eastern DR Congo must respect their commitment to the Amani program,” Mr Luneno says pointing fingers to the rebel faction led by Renegade Laurent Nkunda.

Expressing their disapproval to the CNDP rebel faction, which is currently asking for fresh negotiations, the Civil Society president of North Kivu says, there should be no more negotiations, and that all the armed groups must honour the agreement signed in Goma on the 23rd January 2008.

A series of planned peaceful demonstrations of civilians expressing their dissatisfaction of the current deplorable war situation has been planned by the civil society.

“After today, we will wait and see until the 3rd October 2008, a day set aside by the Amani process for the commencement of the disengagement plan by all the fighting forces. If the disengagement plan is not respected by all, we plan to take further public demonstrations”