All Africa News Agency
Pressure Mounts on Congolese Belligerents
November 9, 1998
KINSHASA (AANA) - Intense consultations have been going on in Africa in the search for a peaceful solution to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) crisis. Increased pressure has also been put on the belligerents to effect a cease-fire.
The recent Lusaka meeting on the Congolese crisis agreed to a cease- fire in principle, but rebels have said it did not concern them. They say no cease-fire would be viable as long as there are no direct talks with President Kabila. Mediators are also trying to convince Rwanda to acknowledge that it has troops stationed in Congo. The Tanzanian foreign minister, Jakaya Kikwete, recently said that Rwanda's refusal to acknowledge the deployment of its troops in Congo was a hindrance to the declaration of a cease-fire in Congo. Uganda, Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia acknowledged that their troops were in Congo. But Uganda and Angola say they are there to defend their borders against rebel incursions from Congo, a reason which Kikwete claimed was not valid.
Despite Kabila's objection to direct negotiations with rebels, some signs show that it might not take long before he initiates talks to resolve his country's crisis. During the recent meeting between the South African president Nelson Mandela and the Namibian head of state, Sam Nujoma, the two leaders acknowledged the need to allow rebels to take part in negotiations. Both acknowledged that a solution for the Congolese crisis was difficult to achieve without rebel participation.
South Africa is in favour of a negotiated settlement while Namibia joined Zimbabwe and Angola in defending the Kabila government aginst a rebel onslaught.
Other reports say that the United States has been asking Angola to withdraw its troops from DRC. Kabila's regime needs the Angolan support to stop the rebel advance towards the capital. Rebels are still active in the west, between the capital and the port of Matadi. Without the Angolan presence in the area, they could start marching toward Kinshasa.
The Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is also under internal pressure to withdraw his troops from Congo. Various groups including human rights and Christian organisations have condemned the sending of troops to defend a non-democratic government. The police, on 31st October, intervened to disperse a demonstration of civic organizations against the Congolese war. Zimbabweans are also not pleased with spending money in the Congolese war while the country is experiencing economic difficulties. |
