Hi All,
Further updates ,still talking
Regards
John
World: Africa
Congo peace summit boost
Still no settlement in sight
There is renewed optimism that the Democratic Republic of Congo peace process is back on track after negotiators agreed a draft cease-fire.
Ishbel Matheson in Lusaka: The negotiators were exhausted but relieved
It will now be put before foreign ministers from East and Southern Africa who are involved in the conflict. A Congolese delegation led by the Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Yerodia, is also taking part.
The breakthrough came in the early hours of the morning after four days of marathon preliminary negotiations in Lusaka between military observers and officials from all the countries and groups involved in the conflict.
Reports from the meeting said they appear to have agreed:
A ceasefire from 3 July
Deployment of peacekeepers
Withdrawal of foreign armies
Disarming of rebel groups
The BBC's Ishbel Matheson in Lusaka says there is now a mood of renewed optimism. The verdict of one senior Ugandan Government official was "so far, so good".
Their discussions have resumed this morning to put the finishing touches to the draft.
It will then be presented to the foreign ministers of the countries involved in the conflict.
If their discussions are successful, heads of state will gather to put their signatures to a cease-fire.
On the difficult question of how to deal with the Interahamwe, the armed Hutu extremists operating in the Congo, it is understood that the draft document says that any force observing the cease-fire has the authority to disarm them.
The main rebel groups are backed by Rwanda and Uganda, while President Laurent Kabila has been supported by Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola.
Desire for security
On Friday, the Rwandan president, Pasteur Bizimungu, said he would only sign the agreement if it guaranteed the security of his country's borders.
He said Rwanda would only stop fighting if there was no further threat from Hutu militias operating from Congolese territory.
The Rwandan Government also criticised Zimbabwe's decision to send another 3,000 troops to support President Kabila and said it was not in the spirit of a peace accord.
Zimbabwean Defence Minister Moven Mahachi said he had sent reinforcements to the Congo, though he refused to give figures.
Robert Mugabe: Loyal ally of the Congo government
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has also indicated that he may not go to the summit.
"We have said we will only go there when the ministers have done a good job," he said.
"To us the most important thing is that we strengthen our defence forces, strengthen our own lines of resistance and prevent more ground being taken and occupied by the invading forces."
Possible peacekeepers
However, more positive signs have come from South Africa and Nigeria - Africa's two main military powers - which have both hinted recently that they would be prepared to contribute troops to a peacekeeping force.
Newly-appointed South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Zuma has also said she wants to put a high priority on resolving African conflicts.
Laurent Kabila has previously refused to meet the rebels
Previous attempts to end the Congo's 11-month-old war have failed, with the government refusing to meet the rebels.
The latest plan, which emerged out of a meeting of African heads of state in Pretoria last week, represents the most concerted effort so far to end the conflict.
The peace initiative has the backing of most southern African leaders, and other senior figures including former South African President Nelson Mandela. |
