In DR Congo, the government and opposition parties have clinched a hard-won deal over President Joseph Kabila's fate, ending a political crisis that sparked months of deadly unrest. <br/><br/>Under the terms of the deal, Kabila will stay until the end of 2017 but a transition council will be established, headed by opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi. In addition, a Prime Minister will be named from the opposition ranks.<br/><br/>The talks were launched by the Roman Catholic Church to ward off violence as Kabila's second and final mandate ended on December 20 with no sign of him stepping down and no election in sight. <br/><br/>The final deal was signed after 13 hours of negotiation yesterday and only after several last-minute hitches nearly derailed an accord. According to a working document for the deal, Kabila guarantees that he will not seek a third mandate. <br/><br/>In return, the opposition accepted the President remain in office until handing over to an elected successor. The opposition had previously demanded his immediate departure from public life.