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Ex-Mobutu Adviser Critical Of Kabila Leadership
January 27, 1999
By Ruth Nabakwe
Paris, France (PANA) - A former special adviser to the late Congolese President
Mobutu Sese Seko, Honore G'Banda Nzambo Ko Atumba, currently exiled in France,
has issued a stinging criticism of the current leadership under president
Laurent Kabila, saying history will "judge him."
In an interview with PANA Atumba, who has just published a book on the "Last Days of Marshall Mobutu", said Kabila had not rectified the "mistakes" that he (Kabila) accused Mobutu's government of committing.
"Today dictatorship and insecurity is still prevalent in Congo. Kabila used the slogan that Mobutu was a dictator to be ousted from power but today there is still no democracy in Congo," the former adviser said.
He said the Congolese were still living under a harsh economic environment as much as they did during Mobutu's time.
If Kabila had come to power and restored the hopes of the Congolese people in a democratic system of governance, I would have applauded his leadership, he added.
Responding to why as a special adviser to Mobutu he did not assist the growth of democracy and good governance as he walked the corridors of power at the time, Atumba cleared himself of blame saying his role was to give advice and it was at the discretion of the head of state whether or not to apply it.
Atumba, who also served between 1990 and 1992 as defence minister in Mobutu's government, denied that his book is an attempt to clear his name of any wrong doing during Mobutu's time.
The book was rather a personal reflection through which he felt a moral obligation to bring out the truth about the last days of Mobutu's regime which, according to Atumba, are not known by the international community and the Congolese people.
On the current crisis in Congo, the former adviser criticised Rwanda and Ugandan governments for the "invasion" of Congo, saying peace in these countries will not come through invading another country despite the security concerns expressed by the two governments.
He, however, did not talk about Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola who are assisting Kabila's forces against rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda.
Rwanda and Uganda have consistently blamed Kabila's government of not doing enough to promote security along the border in the east where rebel Hutu Interahamwe militia group used as bases to conduct cross border attacks against Rwanda.
He said a solution to the Congo crisis could be found through dialogue among the parties involved although he was sceptical of a quick end to the conflict as heads of states in the region were divided into pro-Kabila and pro-rebel camps.
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