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Congo-Brazzaville How far with the dialogue process? |
POLITICS
The peace process initiated some months ago shows signs of coming to halt.
Politicians fail to agree with one another
Some people say that any national dialogue should take place within Congo-Brazzaville, while others are sure that a round table discussion in a foreign country is needed, on account of the insecurity still prevailing in certain regions of the country. Yet, the November and December 1999 Pointe Noire and Brazzaville ceasefire agreements, signed between the rebels and the government forces, gave hope for a return to peace. But the fact remains, without sincere dialogue between the protagonists, the country is heading for a kind of «armed peace», which doesn’t give much hope for better days.
Bongo as mediator — but here lies the dilemma
Not everyone agrees that Gabon’s President Omar Bongo should be acting as mediator in Congo’s crisis. His efforts at mediation have brought a general outcry from members of the Republican Movement for the Defence of Democracy and National Unity who are presently in exile. According to Christophe Moukonéké, former secretary-general of ex-President Lissouba’s Panafrican Union for Social Democracy (UPADS), and Jacques Yhombi Opango, former prime minister during the regime which has just fallen, President Bongo’s impartiality must be called into question. In August, both of them went public on the French International Radio Service and BBC Africa respectively, claiming that Bongo singles out delegates from the current Brazzaville regime to take part in the national dialogue.
From his place of exile in London (he’s been in exile for nearly two years), Lissouba published a declaration calling for national dialogue, but at the same time, maintaining that the current regime in power in Brazzaville, is illegal. He said that any dialogue is well nigh impossible, now, because of the unacceptable demands from the Brazzaville authorities. They want to exclude leaders of our country’s most important political parties. Yet, these very people are our people’s legal representatives in the body politic. Lissouba rules out any mediation efforts by Omar Bongo, and calls on the secretary-general of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the secretary-general of the United Nations, together with other African leaders, to search for ways and means for launching an international mediation effort which would: Give a new lease of life; be credible; be able to lead to a peace accord with all those involved in the peace process.
Sassou Nguesso is Congo-Brazza’s present head of state. He has tried to go beyond political quarrels so as to achieve some kind of reconciliation. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Independence, he said: «The time has come to assess the dialogue which started two years ago. There’s no point in getting entangled in invectives, rifts and hatred. Rather, we should be seeking to carry on together, in peace and serenity. But to achieve this, we’ve got to take a long hard look at what’s happening in our nation; how the instruments of government are functioning; what are relations like between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary; the exercise of freedom in our country».
For Sassou, the process of Constitutional reform being drawn up by the Government, is the ideal frame-work for this kind of dialogue. So as to go from the theoretical to the practical, Sassou Nguesso has ordered his government to really examine the present situation. This will be the road to success. He said: «Starting in September until the end of the year, the government team will listen to all shades of public opinion. It will sound out as best as possible, viewpoints from political parties, civil society, local communities, all kinds of associations — nobody will be excluded». Sassou has also affirmed his commitment to democracy. «Once the new Constitution has been approved, the Government will set a strict timetable, in cooperation with the National Transition Council, for proceeding to the presidential, parliamentary and local elections.»
The transition parliament has urged the different peace process signatories to respect their commitments, and has invited politicians and leaders in public life to resolutely involve themselves in the peace process.
Politicians
Congo-Brazzaville is presently going through a political, economic and social crisis. Everyone is called upon to find a solution. The Rally for Democracy and the Republic (RDR) says that President Sassou has taken some good initiatives. Damase Ngollo puts it this way: «We have ratified the Pointe Noire and Brazzaville Accords and have said so clearly. However, these accords have a rather military character. Now, a political agreement is needed, taking into account each and every citizen».
Anaclet Tsomambet used to be Rector of the Marien Ngouabi University in Brazzaville, and was a minister in the former regime. He thinks there is every chance of reaching a peaceful settlement in Congo-Brazza. «After living in such an atmosphere of violence, we have no alternative but to work for national reconciliation and the rebuilding of our country. What’s happened in Congo affects us all. It’s our custom to always solve our problems through dialogue under the palaver tree».
«Rebuilding Congo-Brazzaville can only be done in an atmosphere of peace and coming-togetherness», says the Union for Democratic Renewal-Mwinda (former prime minister Milongo’s party). To solve disagreements, there’s no need of weapons. Milongo affirms: «There’s some people who caused all the trouble. They’ll be held responsible. We continue to call for what we’ve always called for: dialogue, peace between political parties, even with our enemies».
As for the rebels: The main leaders of the National Resistance Council (CNR), a political grouping led by Pastor Ntoumi, have already left the shelter of the forests to go to Brazzaville. This was at the invitation of the Government. Together with the Internal and Security Minister, Pierre Oba, they studied the peace accord implications, and supplied the minister with further details, before agreeing on the necessity of doing everything possible to strengthen the peace process.
Colonel Emmanuel Bogouandza is one of the CNR‘s most important members. He says he’s quite clear about his own group’s position vis à vis dialogue. «The President has announced the Government’s point of view. We have ours and we intend to bring it to the mediation table. It will up to the mediator, Mr Bongo, to take it into account and then finally decide». Colonel Bogouandza said in plain language: «We have ended the war. We don’t want to start it again under any pretext. In spite of all the remaining problems, we need to go forward, step by step, towards peace negotiations».
But is there a «political blockage?»
As the socio-political crisis deepens, it could be that some kind of «political blockage» will occur which will call into question the fragile peace process so laboriously achieved. People are beginning to get worried. There’s many difficulties presently taking place and our citizens need to work together for unity and understanding so that they can recover the joy of living together.
Which all tends to point out that dialogue does not make for unanimity, in spite of it having a prominent place in the ceasefire agreements. Some people thought that following on the 1991 National Conference (considered to be failure because commitments taken at the Conference were not kept), a real national dialogue might take place and thus return the country to the political arena. Others see in this dialogue, the politicians’ hope of getting hold of power, not on the field of battle, but this time through the ballot box.
A true national dialogue is all-important for our country’s future. There’s far too many problems still disturbing daily life in certain regions of Congo, to think that organising a dialogue is going to solve everything magically. The country still has to be pacified and this can only be achieved by disarming the former combatants. In other words, get hold of their weapons which they’re holding onto quite illegally. Finally, in order to have an efficacious dialogue, the Congolese people are called upon to create a consensus on the progress of democracy; they must learn how to speak to one another; they must forget the deadly conflicts which opposed them one to another.
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