DATE=7/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251816
TITLE=CONGO REBEL / GAINS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=GOMA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: REBELS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO ARE
CLAIMING THE CAPTURE OF ANOTHER TOWN IN THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY.
AS TODD PITMAN REPORTS FROM GOMA, THE NEWS COMES AMID A GROWING
DISSATISFACTION WITH THE 11-MONTH CONFLICT AMONG LOCAL RESIDENTS.
TEXT: REBEL LEADER JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA SAYS HIS CONGOLESE
LIBERATION MOVEMENT -- OR M-L-C -- CAPTURED GEMENA, A LARGE TOWN
975-KILOMETERS NORTHEAST OF THE CAPITAL, KINSHASA, LATE WEDNESDAY
AFTER WHAT HE CALLED A SERIOUS FIGHT.
BUT IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE TOWN HAS FALLEN TO REBEL FORCES.
THE M-L-C FIRST CAPTURED GEMENA LAST DECEMBER. BUT GOVERNMENT
TROOPS BACKED BY CHADIAN FORCES -- WHO HAVE SINCE WITHDRAWN FROM
THE WAR -- REGAINED CONTROL OF THE TOWN SOON AFTER.
MR. BEMBA'S UGANDAN-BACKED REBEL FACTION OPERATES IN THE NORTHERN
PROVINCE OF EQUATOR AND HAS MADE A SERIES OF GAINS OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL WEEKS. EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE M-L-C TOGETHER WITH
UGANDAN SOLDIERS CAPTURED GBADOLITE, THE HOME TOWN OF LATE
DICTATOR, MOBUTO SESE SEKO, ON CONGO'S NORTHERN BORDER WITH THE
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
SIX AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT SIGNED A PEACE
ACCORD SATURDAY IN THE ZAMBIAN CAPITAL, LUSAKA. REBEL ALLIES,
RWANDA AND UGANDA SIGNED THE DOCUMENTS, AS DID ANGOLA, NAMIBIA,
ZIMBABWE, AND CONGOLESE PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA.
BUT THE REBELS FAILED TO SIGN THE DOCUMENT AFTER A DISPUTE OVER
WHO WAS THE RECOGNIZED HEAD OF THE MAINSTREAM REBEL GROUP, THE
CONGOLESE RALLY FOR DEMOCRACY. THE R-C-D -- AS IT IS KNOWN --
HAS ADVANCED ACROSS MOST OF THE EAST OF THE COUNTRY, BUT HAS
LITTLE POPULARITY IN THE TERRITORIES IT CONTROLS.
WAR-WEARY RESIDENTS IN THE EASTERN REBEL-HELD TOWN OF GOMA SAY
ALL THEY WANT IS FOR THE WAR TO END AND FOR THE FOREIGN POWERS
INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT TO GO HOME. MOST RESIDENTS HERE APPLAUD
PRESIDENT KABILA FOR SIGNING THE PEACE AGREEMENT IN ZAMBIA, BUT
CRITICIZE THE REBELS FOR FAILING TO DO THE SAME. (SIGNED)
NEB/TP/GE/RAE
15-Jul-99 2:13 PM EDT (1813 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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