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Congo RDC Prospects for peace |
PEACE
A new wind is blowing across Congo RDC.
It’s just possible that peace may
return to the country by the year 2002
Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville, two sister republics on either side of the Congo River, have shared the same destiny during the past five years. There used to be a war situation in Congo-Brazzaville but here, today, the politicians, former rivals, have put aside their kalashnikovs and combat uniforms, to engage in political dialogue in an atmosphere where there is a desire to discuss national reconciliation.
On the other side of the river, in Kinshasa (Congo RDC) people follow with great interest and attention the political melee taking place in Congo-Brazzaville, for in Congo RDC, there’s also a post-war atmosphere. Truly, the winds of peace seem to be blowing across Congo RDC. Fighting had been reported as taking place in the Equateur Province between government troops and those of Jean-Pierre Bemba’s Congolese Liberation Front (FLC). Since then, (and this has been confirmed by the UN Observation Mission in Congo [MONUC] ) not only is the front calm, but the two warring armies, in accordance with the Lusaka Agreement, have drawn back 15 kms. from the front line.
«Something tells me that a return to peace is possible and is for the near future. I bet for the end of 2001», says Jacques Lubwele, a doctor. Having arrived in Kinshasa from Goma in the rush of refugees fleeing the so-called liberation war of Laurent-Désiré Kabila in 1997, he looks after his unfortunate compatriots who have taken refuge in Kinshasa. Jacques Lubwele was about to rejoin his children and his private clinic in Goma in 1998, when a second war situation broke out emanating from the east of the country.
Despairing of what he saw happening around him, he had to continue his exile in Kinshasa. But since the beginning of 2001, Jacques Lubwele has renewed hope — not because former President Laurent-Désiré Kabila (murdered on 16 January), had prophesied in December 2000 that the war would end in 2001, but because L-D Kabila’s disappearance from the political scene has allowed significant progress to take place in the peace process.
«I’m sorry that President Kabila disappeared so tragically from the political scene, but his death seems to have made the war pointless,» Dr. Lubwele told me. The majority of his patients, displaced by war as he is, also think along the same lines. There are almost 2 million displaced persons in Kinshasa and 1 million displaced throughout the country. It remains to be seen when the war will in fact finish, and especially, when the displaced will be able to return to their respective provinces.
Mediation
When Joseph Kabila burst onto the political scene, despite the somewhat unorthodox circumstances in which he assumed power, it was nonetheless seen to be an occasion for renewed hope. Contrary to his father, he has taken definite steps to end the rebellion. He relaunched the Lusaka Agreement and invited Ketumile Masire (Botswana), the moderator of the intercongolese dialogue, to come to Kinshasa and re-open discussions. Mr. Masire sees reason for hope in these recent developments, and visited each of the different rebellion headquarters which had supported him come hell or high water, and especially those which had taken position against Laurent-Désiré Kabila’s government. When Masire returned to Kinshasa, he managed to see the members of the Congolese government, plus other politicians and civilians. It’s now a matter of getting all parties to agree on the date and the venue for the intercongolese dialogue.
Between his two visits to Kinshasa, Mr. Masire met with the leaders of the armed opposition at Goma and Beni respectively. In Goma, the headquarters of the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), Mr Masire came up against a mainly discontented group because he had accepted the young President Joseph Kabila as Congolese head of State.
At Beni, on the other hand, where the leader of the FLC, Mr. Jean-Pierre Bemba awaited him, Mr. Masire found a more responsive audience and an attentive ear. Jean-Pierre Bemba showed himself very much in favour of intercongolese dialogue and that, as soon as possible — by the end of April he hoped. It’s true that the leader of the FLC had been more or less exonerated in the results of the «International Symposium for Peace in Africa» organised by civilians and the Christian Churches, which took place at the end of February beginning of March at Butembo, 50 kilometres from Beni. On that occasion, Jean-Pierre Bemba had publicly asked forgiveness for all the violence, crimes, massacres and plundering committed during the course of the war.
Another reason for hope is the deployment of MONUC troops. The first contingent, comprising Uruguayans, is already in the field at Goma and Kalemie. Soon it will be the turn of Senegalese troops in Kananga and Mbandaka, and Moroccans in Kisangani. «It’s the first phase of the programme,» declared General Moutanga Diallo, MONUC‘s chief of operations. Subsequent phases will be undertaken depending on how the political discussions develop.
Diplomacy
Following on Joseph Kabila’s diplomatic tour of western capitals and the UN Security Council, there’s even more reason for hope. Kabila says: «I must struggle against the diplomatic isolation into which the adversaries of our country have thrust us.» In fact, Congolese diplomacy and political outlook has changed radically, becoming more responsible. Laurent-Désiré Kabila brought down the wrath of the international community on himself and his country. Joseph Kabila, however, prefers a more conciliatory approach. Visibly, this is a success for him since more international doors are opening each day. All the great statesmen have now adopted a listening attitude to what Congo RDC has to say, and they’re ready to provide aid. e.g. Kofi Annan, the UN‘s Secretary-General; Mr. Jacques Chirac, President of France; Belgium’s political leaders; the USA Secretary of State.
For its part, Congo RDC is preparing the way. A new Investments’ Code as well as a new Mining Code are being drawn up and will be published without delay. One can even notice efforts at liberalising political activities. Two Orders in Council (dating from Laurent-Désiré Kabila’s regime and both heavily criticised) which restrict the activities of political parties and non-profit making associations, are being re-examined and will probably be amended to allow greater freedom or will simply be abrogated.
The government has again authorised the free circulation of humanitarian organisations and diplomatic missions throughout the land. Humanitarian organisations can once again deal more effectively with vulnerable individuals and communities wherever they might be. Furthermore, the ambassadors of France, the United States, China and Russia were able to go to Beni on the 1 April to meet with Mr. Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was being rather uncooperative with regard to the withdrawal of his troops in the EquateurProvince. The four diplomats managed to extract from Mr. Bemba, an authorization that once again commercial navigation could take place on the river. Ships must fly the United Nations flag. It’s a sizeable concession, in that it allows inhabitants of Kinshasa access to food crops which are rotting in areas along the river between Kinshasa and Kisangani. It also allows people in the hinterland, access to manufactured products coming from Kinshasa.
Belgium, Congo RDC‘s former colonial master, intends to profit from its approaching presidency of the European Union, in order to set up a plan for the integral development of the Great Lakes region.
Dr. Reginald Moreels, Special Envoy for Humanitarian Problems for Belgium’s Foreign Minister, has just completed a one-month journey throughout Congo RDC, mainly in the provinces of Kivu.
He intends to take advantage of the more open atmosphere prevailing, in order to alleviate the misery of the people in the hinterland. «Belgium,» he declared to the Press, «is going to step up its humanitarian activities in Congo RDC. I am particularly happy that Jean-Pierre Bemba’s FLC has authorised movement on the river for the humanitarian use of boats and barges flying the United Nations flag. I am in a good position to know that Congo RDC doesn’t need to import what is required to feed the Congolese people. We shall do all in our power to stimulate the agricultural potential of the Congolese, so that Congo will be self-sufficient vis à vis feeding its own people».
Mention should also be made of the unexpected visit to Kinshasa on 2 April 2001, of an influential high-level Ugandan delegation, led by Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Eriya Kategaya. The delegation clearly explained that for Uganda the war was over and that they were preparing to recall all their soldiers engaged in Congo RDC‘s war. The minister also said that Uganda would like to reopen its embassy in Kinshasa. (In spite of the war situation, Congo RDC‘s embassies in Uganda and in Rwanda were never closed down). The Ugandan delegation to Kinshasa was accompanied by Congo RDC‘s chargé d’affaires in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.
Editor’s update. — 4 May: In Lusaka, signing of an agreement between the Government of Congo RDC and some rebel movements, laying the groundwork for inter-Congolese dialogue. 7 May: Speaking on his return from talks with Zimbabwe’s President Mugabe, Rwanda’s President Kagame says Rwanda and Zimbabwe will push for a speedy end to the conflict in Congo in order to deal with problems at home. 8 May: At the end of April, Uganda’s President Museveni had threatened to pull out of the Lusaka process, hitting back at a UN report that accused Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and their rebel allies of massive looting of Congo’s natural resources. However, today, Uganda’s Foreign Minister announces it will begin an immediate withdrawal of its troops from most of their positions in the north and north-east of Congo where they have been supporting Jean-Pierre Bemba’s Congolese Liberation Front (FLC). Uganda, may, however, keep a military presence in the Province Orientale and on the western slopes of the Rwenzori mountains. The Foreign Minister says that Uganda remains a party to the Lusaka Peace Agreements, although it still reserves the right to pull out unilaterally if it continues to be dissatisfied by what it describes as «an apparent lack of political will to bring peace to Congo». — The WFP has warned of un unfolding humanitarian crisis in the northern part of Katanga Province, Desperate people are arriving in the area in search of help after years of isolation due to conflict. — The rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy-Liberation Movement, has hailed the recently-signed declaration of principles between Congo RDC‘s government and rebel movements, even though it was not invited to sign it. (ANB-BIA, 9 May 2001)
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PeaceLink 2001 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement