The exclusion of a breakaway Hutu opposition alliance called the National Council for the Defence of Democracy and the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) has been considered a reason for the failure of talks so far.
He has used his calm skills to tread a careful line on such controversial issues as the EU Rapid Reaction Force and British participation in National Missile Defence, as well as overseeing British forces in military action in Afghanistan.
Tensions persist within the newly integrated forces of the Congolese army, which include a powerful Tutsi militia, called the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), that may retain its old command structure inside Congo's army.