Text:
http://www.africanews.org/central/congo-kinshasa/stories/19990203_feat1.html
Mobutu General Joins The Rebels
February 3, 1999
Kampala - A former Mobutu general, Baramoto, has joined the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) rebels fighting to overthrow President Laurent Kabila, sources
have said.
The UN Integrated Regional Information Network for Central and Eastern Africa, quoting the Belgian daily Le Soir, said two other former Zaire generals, Nzimbi, former army head of finance, and Gen. Mavua, were in Kisangani, the rebel headquarters.
Ugandan security sources said Baramoto, former chief of staff and one of the richest generals in the Mobutu regime, passed through Uganda from South Africa about two weeks ago and joined the Jean-Pierre Bemba-led rebels. Baramoto reportedly owns a fleet of aircraft.
"He (Baramoto) passed through Uganda and met their (rebel) contact here before proceeding to Congo. I can't say he was given any recognition by the Ugandan Government. He was on his own," a Ugandan intelligence source said.
He said Baramoto was last seen at Lisala in the eastern Congo which is under the rebel control. It could not be easily established if Baramoto took arms to the rebels but sources said he arrived in Kisangani with two lieutenants who were in the former Zaire forces.
The Ugandan security source said rebel leader Bemba has been in contact with Baramoto. Prof. Wamba dia Wamba is reported to be opposed to former Mobutu military officers joining the rebel coalition, an issue that has fuelled the internal bickering within the Congolese Rally for Democracy rebel ranks. Following the differences, President Yoweri Museveni last week met rival rebel leaders and persuaded them to put aside their differences for the sake of the Movement and Congo liberation.
Copyright © 1999 New Vision. Distributed via Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, publish or use for broadcast, contact New Vision at the link above.