Text:
http://www.africanews.org/central/congo-kinshasa/stories/19990329_feat2.html
Source App: [NDF 'In Thick Of Things' - Netscape]
NDF 'In Thick Of Things'
March 29, 1999
By Werner Menges
Kinshasa - The war in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a
substantial number of Namibian troops are stationed, intensified around the
rebel-held town of Kabalo this week.
Clashes between rebel forces, said to be aided by Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, and Congolese, Zimbabwean, Namibia and Angolan Allied forces are reported to have increased since Tuesday evening. However, Namibia's Deputy Commander of SADC Allied Forces in the DRC, Brigadier-General Ed Ndaitwah, told Namibian journalists at a media briefing in Kinshasa on Wednesday that the situation around the eastern town of Kabalo, where the increased fighting is concentrated, was "under control".
The town was now the bone of contention, Ndaitwah said, with fighting taking place extremely close to the town. Kabalo, situated on the Congo River some 300km due east of the diamond mining centre of Mbuji-Mayi, remains in rebel hands.
Namibian troops are stationed at Katuta close to the hot spot of Kabalo across the Congo River, where a crucial bridge over the river is situated. Ndaitwah told a group of Namibian journalists planning to travel to the eastern front that the flare-up in a vast area around Kabalo had forced the SADC allies to curtail movements in the area.
He indicated that his forces would try to normalise the situation before the regular movement of troops, by train, from the main allied supply base at Kamina in the southwestern part of the vast DRC was resumed. At the Kamdna Airfield, where Namibian journalists were ordered to return to Kinshasa after they had arrived aboard a troop and supplies cargo aircraft, aeroplanes was seen unloading a large number of Congolese Armed Forces troops.
Zimbabwean MIGs were also seen flying over the base. Ndaitwah appeared satisfied with the SADC Allies Forces' performance in the DRC so far and expressed confidence about future prospects.
"Since our arrival in this country, back in August (1998), we never, we never ever, lost an inch to the enemy. That tells that we have a certain capability. Should we not have that capability, definitely we would have lost some areas to the enemy. Instead, we have gained ground which was occupied by the enemy."
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