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Democratic Republic of Congo peace talks on course
February 8, 1999
by Times Reporter
Lusaka - The consultative peace talks on the Democratic Republic of Congo taking place in Lusaka are on course, Presidential Affairs Minister Eric Silwamba said last night. In a ZNBC main news bulletin, monitored last night, Mr. Silwamba also corrected sentiments that Rwandan and Ugandan delegations walked out of the meeting saying the two groups merely retreated to go and consult with their leaders.
Mr. Silwamba said the delegations prior to their departure fully participated in the deliberations. The Rwandan and Ugandan delegates were reported to have walked out of the talks last Friday after differences over the inclusion of the rebels in the talks.
But Mr. Silwamba noted the talks did not flop as they were still going in Lusaka and said there was hope the peace initiatives would bear fruit. The countries present were Zambia as chairman, Angola, DR Congo, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda and the representatives of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the United Nations and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). The committee would submit a report to regional ministers for defence and foreign affairs.
Allies pressure Kabila into peace offer
February 5, 1999
By Howard Barrell
Johannesburg - Heavy pressure from Democratic Republic of Congo President Laurent Kabila's military allies lies behind his statement on Wednesday that he is ready to open peace talks and sign a ceasefire with rebels.
Kabila's declared commitment to peace came after a meeting with Chadian President Idriss Deby in N'djamena. Chad has 1 000 troops in the north-east of Congo supporting Kabila. The Chadians have recently suffered serious reverses in battles with a small rebel group, headed by Jean-Pierre Bemba, once loyal to Mobutu Sese Seko, Congo's deceased former leader.
Kabila said in N'djamena that he was ready to open peace talks at home or abroad with the rebels and sign a ceasefire. His previous position had been that he would hold talks with the rebels only in Kinshasa, the Congolese capital - which he controls - and that he would sign a ceasefire only once all forces from Rwanda and Uganda, which have been backing the rebels, had been withdrawn from Congo. |
