DATE=8/30/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGO PEACE (L)
NUMBER=2-253256
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=LUSAKA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
///// ED'S: FRENCH ACTUALITY AVAILABLE;
FED IN THE CLEAR. /////
INTRO: The rival leaders of the rebel "Congolese
Rally for Democracy" have arrived in Lusaka, Zambia to
sign a peace agreement aimed at ending the year-old
civil war in Congo-Kinshasa. From Lusaka, V-O-A
Southern Africa Correspondent Alex Belida reports.
TEXT: Zambian Presidential Affairs Minister Eric
Silwamba says everything is in readiness for Tuesday's
planned signing ceremony. Rival rebel-leaders Emile
Illunga and Ernest Wamba dia Wamba are both in Lusaka,
along with most of the other founder-members of the
now-divided Congolese Rally for Democracy, the R-C-D.
Under a compromise worked out by Zambian and South
African mediators, all 50 founder-members of Congo's
main rebel group are to sign the peace agreement. It
calls for a cease-fire, deployment of an international
peacekeeping force and an eventual political dialogue
in Congo-Kinshasa that will bring together the
government of President Laurent Kabila, the rebels,
and other political groups to discuss the country's
future.
Mr. Kabila signed the accord in July along with
representatives of the three main African countries
that have backed him militarily in the civil war:
Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Rebel supporters
Rwanda and Uganda have also signed the peace
agreement. But implementation of the accord has been
blocked by division within the rebel ranks over who
should sign for the R-C-D.
Vice President of the Illunga faction of the rebel R-
C-D, Moise Nyarugabo, says he hopes there are no last-
minute obstacles to block the long-awaited rebel
signing.
Speaking to V-O-A in Lusaka, Mr. Nyarugabo says he
hopes the signing will bring an immediate halt to the
fighting. But he questions whether President Kabila
wants to end the war.
// NYARUGABO ACTUALITY //
The first point is to stop the war. For us, we
can commit to do so. But is Kabila committed?
That is the question.
// END ACTUALITY //
//OPT// The rebel Vice President concedes that having
all 50 founder-members of the main rebel group sign
the peace agreement could prove unwieldy and lead to
new complications. He says these might include fresh
disputes within the R-C-D over who should represent
the group on the Joint Military Commission and the
Political Committee that are to be established under
the peace plan. //END OPT//
The rebels have been fighting since August of last
year to topple the Kabila government. Because of the
involvement of neighboring countries on the rival
sides, regional leaders have repeatedly voiced concern
the conflict could spread and engulf all of Central
Africa. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF/RAE
30-Aug-1999 09:23 AM LOC (30-Aug-1999 1323 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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