DATE=5/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249969
TITLE=RWANDA/CONGO/REBELS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: REBELS IN CONGO-KINSHASA ON SATURDAY DECLARED THEY WILL
CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO OUST THE NATION'S PRESIDENT. RICHARD ENGEL
REPORTS FROM OUR EAST AFRICA BUREAU IN NAIROBI THAT THE STATEMENT
COMES ONE DAY AFTER THE REBEL'S CHIEF SPONSOR -- RWANDA --
DECLARED A CEASEFIRE.
TEXT: REBELS IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN CONGO-KINSHASA HAVE VOWED
TO KEEP UP THEIR FIGHT TO TOPPLE PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA --
DESPITE PEACE OVERTURES MADE BY RWANDA.
RWANDA, UGANDA AND BURUNDI ARE ALL ACCUSED OF ARMING AND TRAINING
THE CONGOLESE REBELS -- WHO LAUNCHED THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE
GOVERNMENT IN AUGUST.
BUT LATE FRIDAY, RWANDA UNEXPECTEDLY ANNOUNCED A CEASEFIRE.
RWANDA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAID HE HOPES THE MOVE WILL MAKE ROOM
FOR A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT. HOWEVER, HE IMPLIED THAT RWANDA MAY
RESUME FIGHTING IF OTHER SIDES IN THE 10-MONTH CONFLICT DO NOT
RESPECT THE TRUCE.
THE REBELS IN CONGO-KINSHASA REACTED BY SAYING RWANDA'S DECISION
WILL HAVE, IN THEIR WORDS, NO EFFECT ON THE GROUND. THEY SAY THEY
WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO REMOVE PRESIDENT KABILA, WHOSE
GOVERNMENT THEY SAY IS CORRUPT AND INCITES ETHNIC VIOLENCE.
HOWEVER, WITHOUT RWANDA'S AIR AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, IT IS NOT
CLEAR HOW EFFECTIVELY THE REBELS CAN CONTINUE TO FIGHT. THE
REBELS HAVE ALSO UNDERGONE BOUTS OF INFIGHTING IN RECENT WEEKS,
WHICH COULD BE A SIGN OF STRAIN.
THE CONFLICT IN CONGO-KINSHASA IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN AFRICA,
INVOLVING AT LEAST SEVEN NATIONS. // OPT // ANGOLA, NAMIBIA AND
ZIMBABWE ALL HAVE SOLDIERS, TANKS AND PLANES IN CONGO-KINSHASA TO
SUPPORT PRESIDENT KABILA'S GOVERNMENT. CHAD IS REPORTED TO HAVE
RECENTLY WITHDRAWN ITS FORCES. // END OPT //
ONGOING EFFORTS TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE FIGHTING
HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. (SIGNED)
NEB/RHE/ALW/JO
29-May-99 10:18 AM EDT (1418 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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