Here is a rather ironinc bit of news from one of my favorite blogs about the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Extra-Extra:

"Hotels to profit from peace conference
Posted: 29 Dec 2007 01:44 PM CST

News from eastern congo is mixed. A conference on 'peace, security and development' is to be held in Goma from January 6th. It's better to talk than fight, but Congolese commentators are sceptical, and ongoing forced recruitment of children by armed groups suggests that they are not about to change their ways.

Hotel owners will certainly profit from the conference, as 500 or more delegates plus press and entourage descend on a town that boasts, I believe, around 250 hotel rooms. Ironically, many of the smartest hotels in Goma pay 'taxes', willingly or unwillingly, to Laurent Nkunda's rebels.

The merry-go-round continues."

CongoBlog: Cedric Kalonji