Text:
http://www.africanews.org/central/congo-kinshasa/stories/19981216_feat2.html
Source App: [Congo Spells Out Terms For A Possible Truce - Netscape]
Congo Spells Out Terms For A Possible Truce
December 16, 1998
NAIROBI, Kenya (PANA) - The ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo in
Kenya has said Kinshasa will only sign a ceasefire which clearly provides for
the withdrawal of foreign troops backing rebels who are fighting the government
of President Laurent Kabila.
Gabriel Kyungu wa Ku-Mwanza told a press conference that "the precise dates of the withdrawal of Rwandan, Burundian and Ugandan troops from the country should be indicated before we sign a ceasefire."
Kinshasa has accused Uganda and Rwanda of invading the country, saying the rebels are the make up of the two countries. Kyungu also accused South Africa and the United States of supporting the rebels and trying to impose their will on the Congolese people. He said the UN as well shared the blame for the chaos in Congo for supporting the suggestion that Kabila meets with rebels, which he has refused to do. He suggested it should appoint a team to verify and confirm the role of Rwanda, Uganda and the US in Congo's civil war.
"Rebels backed by Uganda and the Tutsi-led governments of Rwanda and Burundi intend to carve out a chunk of central Africa including eastern Congo for their own selfish ends," the envoy said.
He added that the Congolese people would neither accept solutions imposed on them in the conflict nor sell their sovereignty.
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