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A Ugandan journalist comments on the fact that peace in Congo RDC seems as elusive as ever
Congo’s President Laurent Kabila, facing an armed opposition of fragmented rebel groups supported by his former allies, Uganda and Rwanda, recently pulled the rug from under the international community when he declared that he was no longer bound by the Lusaka Peace Accord.
The Lusaka Accord is principally built on two dimensions to the conflict: Firstly, Congo’s internal political question whereby President Kabila must enter into talks with the armed opposition within the country — and here Congo’s unarmed opposition and civil society must also have their say.
The second dimension englobes the security concerns of Congo’s neighbours, principally Rwanda and Uganda who claim they are in Congo so as to protect their borders from «aggression.» — in the case of Rwanda, this means the Interahamwe — for Uganda, the Allied Democratic Forces and Sudan.
There are positive points in the Lusaka Accord, but, as one political commentator recently said, the Accord is: «An easier-said-than-done affair» unless the main groups and individuals involved, really set their minds to achieving peace. But, today, the agreement seems to be in tatters as fierce fighting has once again erupted. No sooner had President Kabila demanded that foreign aggressors’ forces be withdrawn from his territory, than he launched intermittent attacks on rebel positions here and there.
What’s wrong with the Accord?
President Kabila complained that the Lusaka Accord did not take into account Congo RDC‘s sovereignty — indeed, he has several problems with the Accord. Firstly, he feels he is the innocent victim of foreign aggressors who are controlling puppets such as Jean-Pierre Bemba (Movement for the Liberation of Congo - MLC), Emile Ilunga (leader of the Congolese Rally for Democracy), Wamba Dia Wamba (Congolese Rally for Democracy — Liberation Movement faction). Secondly, he says that if Uganda and Rwanda have security concerns, then the United Nations should be deployed in the rebel-held areas, not the two countries in question. Thirdly, as one diplomatic source in Kampala, Uganda, says, Kabila is seeking a home-grown solution to Congo’s problems, not a «Uganda-designed-UN approved formula» imposed by the UN.
So what has Kabila done? He’s decided to act stubborn, and has delayed and delayed the deployment of UN troops in that part of Congo he still controls. He has rejected the appointed mediator, former Botswana President, Ketumile Masire, for the flimsiest of reasons — that Masire does not speak French. And to show he’s still in charge in Congo, Kabila has recently constituted a parliament unilaterally and has a Constitutional Commission in place to draft a Constitution. Plans for local elections are also underway. Kabila would like the UN to recognise these efforts, and accept them as a substitute for the democratic dispensation the Lusaka Accord provides for.
The fact is — the cease-fire has remained a piece of paper and in practice, the guns have never really fallen silent. Everyone signed the Accord, but none fully accepted its stipulations. Mistrust still persists with a feeling that the Accord will never work out.
Each of the parties involved in the conflict has saved up for a rainy day, by continuing with the recruitment and training of military personnel as well as buying arms.
All the parties to the Lusaka Accord were quick to sign but have been painfully slow to implement the provisions of the Accord, and according to military sources, Kabila has made several moves to strengthen his army. Part of the problem is, there are no UN forces standing between the government forces and the rebels. The delay in the deployment of UN troops, who should have been deployed in June, has only increased the tension. «There are just a handful of observers here and there; nothing substantial to keep the lid on the pot,» said a military attaché at one western embassy in Kampala.
Rebel leader Bemba recently said that although he still has faith in the Lusaka Accord, he does not really care if it collapses. This still seems to be the thinking of far too many people in high places at the moment.
Editor’s update: On 16 October, countries fighting on both sides of the conflict in Congo met in Maputo, Mozambique, in a bid to revive the Lusaka Peace Accord. At the meeting, President Kabila agreed to the deployment of UN peacekeepers in government-controlled areas of his country.
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