U.N., Congo army to strengthen cooperation

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, June 9 (UPI) -- In a move to stem the ongoing violence in the eastern regions of the Congo, the country's armed forces and the United Nations will strengthen cooperation.

Alan Doss, the U.N. secretary-general's special representative, recently traveled with Charles Mwando, Congo defense minister, to the country's North and South Kivu provinces where violence from the rebel Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda, or FDLR, remains an ongoing threat, the United Nations reported.

Following the visit, officials say the Congolese military jointly with the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the country have agreed to increase their cooperation targeting FDLR as part of an attempt to bring stability to the region.

"The two sides agreed to strengthen the planning and execution of their military and other joint tasks," Farhan Haq, U.N. spokesperson, said in a statement.