ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) has welcomed the cease-fire agreement signed on Saturday between the Government of the Republic of Congo and a group led by the Reverend Priest Ntumi.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has noted with satisfaction the signing of a cessation of hostilities and ceasefire agreement in the Pool Department between the Government of the Republic of the Congo and the Reverend Priest Ntumi, in Kinkala, according to a statement from the pan-African bloc on Sunday.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission has congratulated the parties on this important step in the search for a peaceful solution to their dispute.

The Chairperson has encouraged the parties to scrupulously honor the commitments made.

He has underlined that the implementation of the provisions contained in the agreement can only contribute to the creation of a peaceful and stable environment necessary for the development of the Congo and the consolidation of democracy.