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Annan Condemns Massacre Of 500 In DRC

January 7, 1999

United Nations (PANA) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has condemned the massacres of civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including the reported New Year eve slaying of some 500 civilians at Makobola in the rebel -controlled eastern part of the country

"Throughout the conflict in the DRC, the Secretary General has called on all parties to respect human rights and international humanitarian law," Annan's Spokesman, Fred Eckhard said in a statement Wednesday.

Noting that rebel leaders in the country had promised to investigate the latest massacre, Annan recalled that the results of a similar promise to investigate alleged massacres in Kasika, in South Kivu region last August had not been made public.

The government of President Laurent Kabila has also been accused of carrying out massacres during his rebellion between 1996 and 1997. An UN investigation had to be stopped following repeated efforts by the government to frustrate the investigation.

Saying there could be no military solution in the DRC conflict, Annan promised to continue to support current regional efforts to broker a cease-fire, withdraw foreign troops and broaden the democratic pace in the country.

The DRC government of Laurent Kabila has faced a rebellion in the north eastern part of the country since 2 August. Kabila, who came to power in 1997 through a rebellion backed by Uganda and Rwanda, has accused his former allies of masterminding the current crisis.

In the ongoing conflict, Kabila is being militarily-backed by Angola, Chad, Namibia and Zimbabwe. This situation has already raised fears that the Congo conflict could explode into a regional war engulfing the whole Great Lakes.

Regional efforts to find a peaceful solution to the current crisis have not been successful yet.

Copyright © 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Distributed via Africa News

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