Catholic bishops in Democratic Republic of Congo have abandoned attempts to arrange a government-opposition power-sharing agreement, amid rising violence.
Archbishop Marcel Utembi Tapa of Kisangani, the bishops' conference president, said the latest round of political negotiations were not satisfying the Congolese people. He said bishops had continued working with both sides until March 27, but that all parties were pulling back from a consensus on issues previously agreed upon.
"This lack of sincere political will did not allow for an agreement," the archbishop said at a March 28 news conference.
"We are therefore bringing the political impasse in these discussions to national and international attention -- as well as the lack of political goodwill and the incapacity of the political and social actors to find a compromise."
