Cape Town talks could clinch DRC ceasefire
March 5, 1999
by Hugh Roberton
Cape Town - President Mandela is close to securing a ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a meeting in Cape Town today with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Nambian President Sam Nujoma could clinch the deal.
Ironically, the meeting - which could be joined later today by other leaders of countries involved in the conflict - is taking place against a background of fierce renewed fighting in the DRC.
But officials say it is precisely because of the new clashes - in which rebels fighting DRC President Laurent Kabila yesterday captured the strategic town of Bolobo, 250km north of Kinshasa - that the chances of an effective ceasefire have been enhanced.
Zimbabwe, which has 10 000 troops in the DRC in support of the Kabila government, and Namibia, which has 2 000 troops there, are reported to be eager to see an end to the fighting because of the huge and mounting costs of their involvement.
Up to now the biggest obstacle to peace has been the refusal of Mr. Kabila to talk directly to the rebels, who continue to harass government forces across a wide area.
Earlier this week Mr. Mugabe, Mr. Nujoma and another of the DRC government's military allies, Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, met Mr. Kabila in Kinshasa to review the military situation.
And in spite of bluster from Mr. Mugabe after the meeting - he threatened an all-out campaign against the rebels - they are believed to have prevailed on Mr. Kabila to agree to some sort of dialogue with the various rebel groups.
Late last month Mr. Nujoma flew to South Africa for talks with Mr. Mandela after which both expressed optimism that a breakthrough in the DRC could occur soon and Mr. Nujoma stressed the importance of dialogue between warring parties.
This was the first indication that there was a serious prospect of persuading Mr. Kabila to accept a ceasefire and talks with the rebels, who are backed by Uganda and Rwanda.
Regional mediator, Zambian President Frederick Chiluba, and a leading member of the DRC opposition, Archbishop Laurent Monsengwa from Kisangani, have visited Mr. Mandela in recent days.
And Mozambican President Joachim Chissano has also been involved in diplomatic efforts.
In his budget debate in Parliament yesterday, Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo, who held talks with Mr. Mugabe last night, said South Africa's approach was to resolve the conflict through the Southern African Development Community, in consultation with the Organisation of African Unity.
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