France, April 15 -- Fighting is currently centred around the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, where the M23 armed group has seized territory and the Congolese army and its allies are trying to push it back.

The ninth round of talks, which began on Monday, is taking place near the Swiss city of Montreux, with the location kept secret until late in the day for security reasons, sources told RFI.

A Qatari delegate and United States envoy Massad Boulos are co-moderating the session, while a representative from the United Nations mission Monusco is attending as an observer.

Early discussions were reportedly difficult, with delegates disagreeing on the agenda and the composition of delegations, wh...