UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday welcomed a peace deal signed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the rebels known as the M23, calling it "a positive step towards ending cycles of deadly conflicts" in the war-torn country.

"The secretary-general welcomes the conclusion today of the Kampala Dialogue between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the M23, through the signing of declarations by the parties today in Nairobi, Kenya," said a statement issued by Ban's spokesman.

The secretary-general also welcomed a Final Communique by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and President Joyce Banda of Malawi, in their capacities as chairs of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), it said.

"This constitutes a positive step towards ending cycles of deadly conflicts that have caused immense suffering to the Congolese people," said the statement.