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0DATE=1/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243777
TITLE=CONGO REBELS (L-O)
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=GOMA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  REBELS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO HAVE DENIED 
CLAIMS BY PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA THAT GOVERNMENT TROOPS 
RECAPTURED TWO TOWNS IN THE EAST OF THE COUNTRY.  AS TODD PITMAN 
REPORTS FROM GOMA, THE NEWS COMES AS REBELS ARE SORTING OUT 
POLITICAL DIVISIONS WITHIN THEIR RANKS.
TEXT:  REBEL COMMANDER JONAS PADIRI SAYS THE LAKE TANGANYIKA PORT
OF MOBA AND THE EASTERN TOWN OF NYUNZU ARE STILL FULLY UNDER 
CONTROL OF REBEL TROOPS.
A MILITARY SPOKESMAN IN THE CAPITAL, KINSHASA, SAYS THE 
GOVERNMENT RECAPTURED THE TOWNS MONDAY, BUT BOTH LOCALITIES ARE 
SEVERAL-HUNDRED KILOMETERS BEHIND REBEL LINES.
COMMANDER PADIRI SAYS REBEL TROOPS HAVE ENCOUNTERED NO GOVERNMENT
RESISTANCE IN THOSE AREAS.  BUT REBELS HAVE FREQUENTLY CLASHED 
WITH TRADITIONAL CONGOLESE MAI-MAI WARRIORS AS WELL AS BURUNDIAN 
AND RWANDAN MILITIA FIGHTERS IN A CORRIDOR ALONG THE WESTERN 
SHORES OF LAKE TANGANYIKA.
THE REBELS SAY THEY CAPTURED THE NORTHWESTERN TOWN OF ZONGO 
DURING THE WEEKEND, SENDING MORE THAN TWO-THOUSAND REFUGEES 
FLEEING ACROSS THE BORDER INTO THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
PRESIDENT KABILA'S GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS BACKED BY SOLDIERS FROM 
NAMIBIA, ZIMBABWE, ANGOLA, AND CHAD, HAS RE-CAPTURED THE NORTHERN
TOWN OF BUSINGA AND SAYS GOVERNMENT ALLIED TROOPS ARE MOVING 
TOWARD GEMENA, WHICH FELL TO THE REBELS LAST WEEK.
DESPITE CONTINUED MILITARY GAINS IN THE NORTHWEST, THE REBELS 
MAIN POLITICAL MOVEMENT, "THE CONGOLESE RALLY FOR DEMOCRACY," IS 
BESET BY INTERNAL POWER STRUGGLES AND HAS SPLIT INTO SEVERAL 
GROUPS.
REBEL OFFICIALS IN THE EASTERN TOWN OF GOMA SAY RIVALRIES HAVE 
SURFACED, PITTING THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH LATE DICTATOR MOBUTU SESE
SEKO AGAINST THOSE WHO PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH PRESIDENT KABILA.  
THE REBELS ARE ALSO DIVIDED OVER WHETHER TO EXPAND THE MOVEMENT'S
28-MEMBER DECISION MAKING ASSEMBLY TO OUTSIDERS.
AFTER TALKS THIS WEEK WITH KEY ALLIES UGANDA AND RWANDA, REBEL 
POLITICAL CHIEF ERNEST WAMBA DIA WAMBA SAID THERE WERE NO 
FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS WITHIN REBEL RANKS.  DESPITE DIFFERENCES 
ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD, MR. DIA WAMBA SAYS REBELS ARE UNITED 
IN THEIR DESIRE TO END MR. KABILA'S RULE.   (SIGNED)
NEB/TP/RAE-T
05-Jan-99 8:59 AM EST (1359 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.