Nairobi/Kinshasa  - French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday morning to discuss ways to find peace in the east of the central African nation.

Sarkozy, who travelled with a delegation of ministers and business representatives, is due to meet Congolese President Joseph Kabila and address parliament.

Rebel groups have in recent years continued to cause trouble in the east of DR Congo, with last year seeing a flare-up in fighting that displaced over 250,000 people.

Sarkozy's visit is tinged with controversy over comments he made suggesting that DR Congo share its mineral wealth with neighbouring Rwanda in order to bring peace to the east.

Rwanda has been accused of backing Tutsi rebel group the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) in DR Congo, although Rwanda arrested CNDP leader Laurent Nkunda in January during a joint operation with the Congolese army.

Sarkozy's delegation is also hoping to agree contracts in the mining, infrastructure and telecommunications sectors.

The French president will also travel to the Republic of Congo and Niger, former French colonies, over the next few days. (dpa)