[17] Great Lakes - Central Africa Bulletin - N. 23

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great lakes - central africa bulletin - n. 23 Date:
Sun, 28 Feb 1999 19:26:14 í (MET)
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"serv. informazioni Congosol" <congosol@skyol.it> To:
gruppi 1 2 <congosol@skyol.it>




no. 23 - february 22, 1999 great lakes - central africa ____________________________________________________________________


ìLet the People be heard...î

A lasting solution to D.R. Congo problems must embody the claims, interests and aspirations for peace of the people of the Great Lakes region. Peace will only happen when there is conscious awareness of the peopleís concerns in the search for peace. Their voices have been drowned by the noise of arms. They have been denied even their basic right to express their anger and anguish in the unjust situations imposed on them - situations about which they know neither the rationale nor the outcome. Civil Society of D.R. Congo has taken as mission and responsibility to voice the concerns, anguish, frustrations, and hopes of the people throughout the country with whom they live and work every day. They speak with ìthe voice of the many who have no voice, but who can no longer be stopped from speaking out...î They ... ìfight so our people can take their destiny in their own handsî. Civil Society has proven its capability by active involvement in the political, economic, social and cultural sector for more than ten years. They have opted for change through nonviolence, and have always refused armed force as a means of seizing or maintaining power. Theirs is the voice of the majority of social and political activists, and they rank among the most representative, strong, and dynamic coalitions in D.R. Congo.

And yet - paradoxically - they are ignored. Political: During the transition Civil Society alone maintained its level of functioning and performance that permitted an internal cohesion and survival of the State within its actual frontiers. Economic: In reaction to the destruction of the economic system, an informal circuit was promoted and sustained by organizations of Civil Society. Womenís use of foreign currency in the market place bypassed the failed banking system, and the ìparallel economyî meant survival for the vast majority of Congolese families.

Social: As State structures ceased to exist small private health centers supplemented State hospitals, parents and teachers made other arrangements for childrenís education, non-governmental organizations of development took charge of water purification, food production, commerce of goods of first necessity, and road repairs in rural agricultural areas.
Cultural: Associations for civic education and defense of human rights monitor and defend human rights and denounce violations. Using means such as music, theater, dance, etc. they promote programs of civic formation: voter education, leadership training, importance of popular participation in politics. To insure security certain neighborhoods and ethnic groups inaugurated systems of alert and dissuasion.
The void filled by Civil Society associations in a context of State disintegration and inadequacy can no longer be ignored if initiatives for peace, democratization and popular participation are to become reality in D.R.Congo. To ignore these accomplishments at a time when there is no parliament or structures that represent the people is a grave error and condemns future actions to failure.

ìWe want peace. We say no to war and the culture of violence... and yes to love of our country ... a society founded on justice, truth, peace, fraternity...î

ìWe want peace..."

People have the right to live in unity and peace in their own land.
There is no doubt that many conflicts we have witnessed during the war - vandalism, pillaging, accusation, retaliation, corruption, even treason - originate in jealousy and envy, egoism and a hardened heart.
Citizens of D.R.Congo and of neighboring countries must overcome their fears, ambitions and egotism, and work toward national reconciliation, democracy and good governance. By reconciliation we will live in peace and with one voice we will be strong, capable of opposing anyone who would attempt to trample our rights, be they foreigner or compatriot. By mutual pardon we will witness sincere love and respect the dignity of each one of our brothers and sisters great or small, rich or poor, sick or healthy, living or dead. By mercy we will be committed to defend our brothers and sisters who are hurt, humiliated and robbed of their
dignity of children of God. Let us learn to share the little we have with our sisters and brothers who lack even the bare minimum.

Peace is not primarily the result of armed struggle. It is not only a gift of God, nor the outcome of negotiations drawn up somewhere else by those in power without the peopleís participation. It is the result of arduous human, cultural and spiritual struggle. First and foremost it must be the outcome of daily commitment to Christian and human values of confidence, solidarity, pardon, reconciliation, justice and work.

The Bishops of Kivu condemned the war and the arguments of those involved in it in any way. They qualify as ìsinî the warís
negative impact in the public and social domain: a multitude of innocent persons being killed; human and Christian communities divided; hatred, racism, rejection sown; religious spirit destroyed at its foundation; infrastructures needed to rebuild the nation destroyed.
It is imperative that the war end and the momentum of national reconstruction begin again. Each one is asked to put his sword back in its place, to silence the arms and to search for peace. Violence and war never bring peace and their scars are indelible.


ìWe say no to war and the culture of violence...î

The people in all provinces of Congo want peace. They repudiate a war they see as meaningless and unjust. They demand its immediate cessation on all fronts, the demobilization of child soldiers, and respect for D.R.Congoís national unity, security, and territorial integrity. They voice strong deception that the international community did not promptly and vigorously denounce the rebellion, the attempt to overthrow the government by force, and the intervention of foreign troops in Congo territory. The people condemn the cultivation of permanent destabilization and violence in Africa of the Great Lakes in

general and the Democratic Republic of Congo in particular. More specifically, they repeatedly and vehemently condemn Western support given to regimes who seize power by armed rebellion. Democratic nations are expected to respect democratic principles that reject seizure of power by force of arms. Democratic nations are expected to promote democracy and not sanction a culture of violence.

Civil Society questions the analysis of certain governments that make the Rwandan genocide the key element in the present crisis. ìOur people do not understand why they have to pay the price for the incoherent politics of neighboring countries.î

In the East people do not understand why - or in whose interest - peace must be assured or restored by armies of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. ìHow can these armies that are incapable of restoring order in their own countries assure lasting peace in a foreign and sovereign country?î
Border security depends on responsible management of internal conflicts within each country. No country in the region can be expected to assume responsibility for the security of its neighbor.

Should not the international communityís preoccupation for peace be the same for people in Eastern D.R.Congo as it is for Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda?

Aware of the unprecedented potential to destroy peace throughout Central and Eastern Africa inherent in the current crisis, Civil Society has undertaken the mission and responsibility to warn that the people of the Congo will not accept any political or military measures leading to domination by foreign countries, either directly or indirectly.
The exploitation of ethnocentric ideology with its exclusionary and domineering tendencies must cease. An
ethnocentric ideology means Africa will always be at war, and the continent will always be a permanent market place for the sale and trafficking of arms and cheap exploitation of its natural resources.

The Congolese people are deeply offended by foreign protagonists who repeatedly insinuate the eventuality of genocide in Congo. As any other citizen in the world, the Congolese have the legitimate duty to defend their country from any threatening danger. And no one today can deny the hospitable, peaceful and non -violent spirit of the people of the Congo.



ì..... and yes to love of our countryî

A strong democratic State: If our country were constituted and organized as a lawful State todayís problems would be quickly resolved. A weak Congo is a permanent threat to security in Central Africa. A strong Congo State with responsible leaders, competent administration, a national army, and healthy relationship with neighboring countries would guarantee security for the people of the country and neighboring countries. A well-formed and motivated national army would guarantee border security and protect all citizens of all ethnic groups.

Improved management of national resources would be assured by a strong duly elected government. Mining contracts cannot be signed during the war. Any political and economic agreements previously signed must be made public.

All people of D.R. Congo are asked to contribute to national solidarity by insisting the government diffuse internal tension and promote national unity through sincere, fraternal political negotiations without restriction; the establishment of a government of broad national unity with mission to promote national and historical awareness in word and in action; democratic, free and transparent elections in freedom of opinion and expression to bring about the establishment of democratic institutions before May 1999.

Participation of other social and political forces within a consensual juridical structure would assure the formation of a broad-based government and parliament and guarantee the right of citizens to choose their own political leaders through peaceful democratic means.
At the local level negotiations among all the sons and daughters of the country through general assemblies would lead to a consensual project of society and the establishment of a lawful State.

Rehabilitation of communication and transportation infrastructures must be rapidly established in order to preserve the social cohesion of the Congolese people, develop internal exchanges and combat a generalized poverty.

An Inclusive Round Table: Civil Society deems urgent the organization of an inclusive political round table that would revive the process of transition towards stable democratic institutions in D.R.Congo. Such a round table must include all political and social forces without exclusion, and have as specific goals:
-- establish a consensual juridical framework - a transition constitution - to govern the transition period;
-- formation of a representative government of national union responsible for the administration of State affairs until the end of the electoral process and the inauguration of permanent democratic institutions;
-- organization of a constitutional commission to study and adapt the proposed Constitution of the Sovereign National Conference in view of the current Constitution;
-- define the responsibilities of the Constituent Assembly that would elaborate the final Constitutional project to be submitted to popular referendum; determine a calendar for the census of the population, the referendum and the electoral process.
Priority actions to be undertaken will emerge in dialogue among all member parties.


ì... a society founded on justice, truth, peace, fraternity...î

Nationality: ìCongolese nationality is one and exclusiveî as stated in the Luluabourg Constitution, August 1964, the
Constitution of June 1967, and Constitution project of the Sovereign National Conference 1992. National consensus concerning the unity and exclusivity of Congolese nationality is indisputable. Only these two criteria can guarantee an authentic community of national identity, aspirations and sentiments.

ìEvery individual has the right to nationality. No one can be arbitrarily deprived of their nationality nor of the right to change nationality.î (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 15).
Revendication of Congolese nationality is used as pretext for exterior aggression. A definitive solution to the problem and its political exploitation by foreign powers is proposed:
  1. The immediate organization of a general census of the people of Congo during the transition period preceding the referendum; II. Issuance of a new national identification card to persons identified as Congo citizens during this census;
  1. Accord Congo nationality to any person identified as an immigrant on Congo territory during the census and who desires to become Congolese;
  2. Issuance of Congolese nationality by general amnesty to refugees of Burundi and Rwanda or others identified during the general census and who express the desire to become Congolese; V. Issuance of an identification card for foreigners to any persons in Congo, immigrant or refugee, identified during the general census and who wants to retain their original nationality while residing in Congo;
  1. Expulsion from Congo territory of any foreigner who wants to stay in Congo for reasons incompatible with universal rights and conscience.

National Unity and Territorial Integrity: National unity is not negotiable. The people denounce any plan to balkanize the country and those lobbies working to breakup the Congo.
Even though D.R. Congo is constituted by numerous ethnic groups, the people strongly insist on the sovereignty of the nation and its economic patrimony, territorial integrity and unity.

There is deep resentment in the East toward the US for its ìdecisive support of aggressor countries.î The people reject the assertion by an American official that ... ìnew arrangements must be created to assure border security.î... ìThere is need for a buffer zone (on Congo territory)...î They repudiate the contention of those who assert the ìungovernabilityî of the ìimmenseî D.R.Congo. Those advocates represent expansionist goals of foreign powers and lobbies who covet the resources and potentiality of the mineral rich Congo and particularly the East. The Congo State and the people under occupation are being bled economically by the current systematic pillaging of its mineral wealth by its Ugandan, Burundian and Rwandan neighbors.
Civil Society of South Kivu considers interference by foreign powers in the economic area of D.R.Congo as yet another violation of our national rights: ìEvery people has an indefeasible and inalienable right to self-determination. They freely determine their political status and assure their economic and social development according to the way they have freely chosen.î (African Charter of Human Rights, 1981, Article 20.1).
Only within the framework of bilateral accords can the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo be profitable to neighboring countries.
The embargo imposed on Burundi explains the plundering perpetrated by this country in South Kivu and particularly in the Port of Kalundu at Uvira. Rather than resort to vandalism, it is imperative that Burundi find a definitive political solution that would end this kind of economic strangulation imposed on them by their neighbors.


ìTo the International Community we say ...î

  1. In its charter The Organization of African Unity should declare as outlawed any government that violates the borders of another member state under whatever pretext; or who protects or employs on its territory mercenaries or armed citizens of another member State in order to destabilize that State, and bring such leaders before instances of international justice.

  2. The international community is strongly urged to take immediate action to control the traffic of arms that sustains the wars in Africa. The United Nations is asked to declare a total embargo on the sale of arms to countries of Africa of the Great Lakes for a period of 10 years.

  3. Help from the international community is indispensable to guarantee the immediate cessation of hostilities. With the international community as witness, regional countries are asked to conclude pacts of non-aggression and respect for international human rights and humanitarian law conventions. The prompt deployment along the entire eastern border of D.R.Congo of a multinational force of intervention under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity with the support of the United Nations and the European Union is vital. This force would have as mission to: -- guarantee security for the Congolese people and territory actually under occupation by the armies of Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda; -- supervise the unconditional and rapid withdrawal of troops from aggressor countries (Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda);
    -- disarm all militia present on Congo territory;
    -- supervise the withdrawal of allied forces of the central government;
    -- proceed to the evacuation to another country of refugees from Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda who refuse to return to their own country, with particular attention given to management of armed refugees; -- contribute to the formation of an authentic national Congo army and a new police corps responsible for the protection of citizens and their possessions.

  4. Governments of Africa of the Great Lakes: Civil Society strongly advocates the promotion democracy as the only solution to regional conflict. What is needed is effective participation in government by all members of society in Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, as well as in D.R. Congo. Democracy in the region will be achieved by dialogue among ethnic communities within each state: dialogue Hutu-Tutsi in Rwanda and Burundi, dialogue between Congo Tutsis and other ethnic groups, dialogue and political openness in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Restoration or initiation of independent judiciary and legislative powers would lead to the establishment of good governance, end selective impunity, and collective and arbitrary recriminations. Policies of social cohesion, equity and equality toward all their citizens without distinction of ethnicity, sex, locality, race or religion will reinforce peaceful transition to authentic democracy. Implicit in authentic democracy must figure respect for international human rights and humanitarian law.

In order to promote healthy relations, community of interests, concord and peace among the peoples and their leaders, regional cooperative organizations or institutions such as the Economic Community of Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) and the Economic Community of the States of Central Africa (CEEAC), have been revalorized by the States of Africa of the Great Lakes and/or Central Africa. This action has the support of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, OUA, PNUD and the European Union.
Civil Society urges the organization of an international conference on the Central Africa region to study the root causes of war: ie poverty, obstruction of the democratic process, failure of national reconciliation, justice and security, and to promote inter-ethnic dialogue.
Civil Society in each country should continue its important role of popular education to democratic values and national solidarity.


ì... While awaiting the outcome of this process, we invite all our compatriots and all those who reside in our country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, to preserve and reinforce the spirit of tolerance and dialogue and in this way contribute to the promotion of the moral well-being of society and the advent of a lawful State and democracy not founded on ethnic centrism, but on sound reason and the common good....î


Source documents:

Bishops of D.R.Congo:

Bukavu - December 5, 1998
Kinshasa - November 7, 1998
Kivu - October 1, 1998

Civil Society:
Agenda for Peace - Kinshasa, November 11, 1998 Donnez la Parole ý la Base - Kinshasa, January 11, 1999 International Conferences:
Antwerp, Belgium - January 19, 1999
Montreal, Canada - January 30, 1999
Bonn, Germany - January 18-22, 1999
Washington DC, USA - January 21-22, 1999
Peace Plan - Bukavu, South Kivu - November 14, 1998

Women of the Congo - Kinshasa, December 10, 1998




Information published in great lakes - central africa is received from different sources: documents and reports published in D.R.Congo, the Great Lakes region and Europe; reports of local human rights groups, church groups, non -governmental organizations; articles from African and European publications; personal contacts and correspondence. Topics are chosen in response to specific requests from the Great Lakes region, and are frequently compiled from several sources. In many instances individual attribution must be withheld.

Maureen Healy
P.O.Box 29185 - Washington. D.C. 20017
tel/fax: 301-927-5084
email: healym@sprynet.com

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