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Kabila and rebels face 'showdown'
December 14, 1998
By Hugh Roberton
Cape Town - Warnings by Angola and Namibia that they will soon have to withdraw
troops backing President Laurent Kabila in the Democratic Republic of Congo have
dramatically increased the prospect of direct peace talks between Mr. Kabila's
government and the rebels now fighting it.
Senior South African sources revealed today that Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, who met President Mandela unexpectedly in Harare yesterday, had been persuaded finally that there could be no end to the conflict - and no prospect of Zimbabwe being able to extricate itself from the DRC - without direct involvement of the rebels.
Reports that Angola already had begun withdrawing troops, and that Namibia would soon do the same because of unease over a threatened rebellion in Caprivi, where more than 1 000 secessionist fighters have fled to Botswana, are said to have been crucial in persuading Mr. Mugabe to back the inclusion of the rebels in peace talks.
If other pro-Kabila allies were forced to withdraw, Zimbabwe - which reportedly
cannot face the financial burden of its involvement in the DRC for much longer -
would either have to increase its support or face a military humiliation.
According to South African sources, Angola's withdrawal has been prompted by a
huge drop in international oil prices - and oil accounts for more than 80% of
the Angolan government's income - and by heavy fighting against Unita forces
over a wide front.
South African sources say Mr. Kabila still has to be convinced that he has to speak to the rebels, whom he has described as puppets of Rwanda and Uganda.
But he has sensed the erosion of his military support, and has desperately approached other African countries for military aid. The Egyptian government confirmed last night that he had approached it for assistance, and he is also said to have made approaches to Sudan and=
Algeria.
Mr. Mandela, who has criticised the deployment of troops in the Congo, met Mr. Mugabe at the Zimbabwean president's request during the weekend. The meeting reportedly was "unexpected and urgent".
After their meeting, Mr. Mandela said: "We are going to find a way forward to
peace. That's the spirit in which we have had discussions."
Until now, the major difference between Mr. Mandela and Mr. Mugabe has been over the inclusion of rebels in peace negotiations.
"We are not fortune tellers, we are not prophets, we are not saying there will be a breakthrough, but we are moving in that direction," said Mr. Mandela.
Meanwhile, Mervin Syafunko reports from Lusaka that the summit for heads of state on the crisis has been put off indefinitely.
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