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DATE=5/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249609
TITLE=CONGO REBELS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=KIGALI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  REBELS IN CONGO-KINSHASA HAVE ANNOUNCED A NEW PRESIDENT 
FOR THEIR MOVEMENT, THE CONGOLESE RALLY FOR DEMOCRACY, OR R-C-D. 
BUT AS TODD PITMAN REPORTS FROM KIGALI, FORMER REBEL LEADER 
ERNEST WAMBA DIA WAMBA HAS DENOUNCED THE MOVE AND STILL CLAIMS 
HIS POST AS PRESIDENT.
TEXT:  FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE R-C-D NAMED EMILE ILUNGA AS THE 
NEW PRESIDENT OF THE REBEL MOVEMENT AFTER THREE DAYS OF MEETINGS 
AIMED AT SOLVING MONTHS OF INTERNAL DIVISIONS.
BUT MISTER DIA WAMBA, WHO WAS PRESIDENT OF THE R-C-D SINCE IT WAS
FORMED LAST AUGUST, CALLED MR. ILUNGA'S APPOINTMENT A COUP D'ETAT
AND SAYS ONLY THE MOVEMENT'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS THE RIGHT TO 
APPOINT NEW LEADERS.
UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, MISTER DIA WAMBA SAYS HE WILL RETAIN HIS 
POST.  BUT REBEL OFFICIALS IN GOMA REMAIN ADAMANT THAT MISTER DIA
WAMBA HAS BEEN REMOVED.
REBEL OFFICIALS SAY JEAN-PIERRE ONDEKANE WILL REMAIN IN HIS POST 
AS VICE PRESIDENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS.  AND MOISE NYARUGABO WILL 
REMAIN AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS. 
INTERNAL DIVISIONS WITHIN THE R-C-D CAME OUT INTO THE OPEN IN 
MARCH WHEN MISTER DIA WAMBA SHIFTED HIS BASE FROM GOMA TO THE 
NORTHERN CITY OF KISANGANI, MOVING FARTHER FROM RWANDAN TROOPS 
AND CLOSER TO UGANDAN SOLDIERS WHO BACK THE REBELS.
WITNESSES IN GOMA SAY THAT ON WEDNESDAY, MISTER DIA WAMBA, A 
SOFT-SPOKEN PROFESSOR WHO USUALLY DRESSES IN SUITS, WAS WEARING 
GREEN MILITARY FATIGUES WITH A PISTOL ON HIS BELT.   HIS LAKESIDE
RESIDENCE IN GOMA IS NOW PROTECTED BY UGANDAN SOLDIERS AND A 
TANK.
MISTER DIA WAMBA SAYS MR. ILUNGA'S APPOINTMENT TO THE REBEL 
PRESIDENCY HAS EXPOSED WHAT HE CALLS THE MAIN DANGER OF THE 
MOVEMENT -- THE DANGER THAT WHILE STRUGGLING AGAINST WHAT HE 
CALLS THE DICTATORSHIP OF (CONGO PRESIDENT LAURENT) KABILA, SOME 
REBEL FACTIONS ARE SIMPLY PREPARING FOR ANOTHER DICTATORSHIP.  
(SIGNED)
NEB/TP/JWH
20-May-99 9:40 AM EDT (1340 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.