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http://www.africanews.org/central/congo-kinshasa/stories/19981229_feat4.html
Abortive Lusaka Summit Dampens Hopes In DRC
December 29, 1998
By Rigobert Munkeni Lapess
Kinshasa, Congo (PANA) - To most people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
, the summit which failed to take place Monday in Lusaka, Zambia, appeared to be
the last chance for a solution to the four-month armed conflict that erupted 2
August.
The majority of DRC citizens believe an end to the fighting between government troops and the rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda will only come through an all -inclusive internal dialogue.
President Laurent Kabila argues, however, that the organisation of general elections in 1999 would be the best way of implementing dialogue, as this will enable the Congolese people to choose their leaders.
The leadership of Kabila's Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL) is in fact opposed to any dialogue involving politicians "without the people's participation."
According to the AFDL, the Sovereign National Conference which took more than seven months during the drawn-out transition period (1990-1997) under the regime of the late President Mobutu Sese Seko, falls under this category.
But the persistent view of the main unarmed opposition, headed by Etienne Tshisekedi of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UPDS), is that an all -englobing dialogue among the people of Congo, including those on the rebellion side, is essential.
This is also the position of the moderate opposition led by Bobolko Lokonga, chairman of the Democratic Christian Socialist Party, which was the third political force in the country during Mobutu's era.
However, in addition what Tshisekedi says, Lokonga's view is that the envisaged dialogue could start with the resumption of political activities before the organisation of general elections, as promised in Kabila's programme unveiled in October.
Members of the civil society, including priests and representatives of non- governmental organisations, including the National League of Voters and the Voice of the Voiceless, have insisted the need for dialogue among the citizenry.
The desire for dialogue by several groups demonstrates the primary eagerness of the majority to preserve the territorial integrity of the DRC and alleviate the people's suffering.
This should be followed by a cease-fire and the withdrawal of Rwandan and Ugandan forces which are regarded here as "invaders."
Kabila has repeatedly said that "there can be no cease-fire without the withdrawal of Rwandan and Ugandan troops."
On the other hand, the rebels have said they would not accept a cease-fire negotiated in their absence. To them, "a mere cease-fire is not enough to resolve the crisis," especially if it is only concluded between the DRC government, Rwanda and Uganda.
In this, the rebels' view is backed by the governments of Rwanda and Uganda, which insist that in order to ensure security along their borders, Kabila must negotiate a cease-fire with the rebel forces.
Political analysts interviewed in Kinshasa said that due to these divergent views, it is doubtful whether the proposed Lusaka summit--postponed because of tight festive season schedules by leaders--would end up with a signed cease-fire accord.
The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) has suggested the widening of the forum discussing the DRC crisis to include the armed and non-armed opposition.
The DRC crisis was high on the agenda of the OUA conflict resolution body which met from 17-18 December in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The summit charged the forthcoming Lusaka summit with the task of finding a solution to the Congolese crisis.
It expressed support for the efforts of President Frederick Chiluba of Zambia who is mandated by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to preside over the discussions of the conflict.
The persistent view of the majority in Kinshasa, however, is that dialogue is the only route toward a negotiated settlement of the DRC crisis.
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