DATE=12/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGO REBELS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257269
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=KABALE, UGANDA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 12:59 P.M.
INTRO: Three rival rebel groups fighting in Congo-
Kinshasa opened talks in Uganda on Friday. As Todd
Pitman reports from the southern Ugandan town of
Kabale, the rebels are trying to overcome deep
divisions between them and unify their ranks.
TEXT: Senior leaders from the three factions opened
talks late Friday on the lawn of a hotel here, in the
southern Ugandan town of Kabale, in the presence of
key allies Rwanda and Uganda.
Emile Ilunga, who heads a Rwandan-backed wing of the
Congolese Rally for Democracy, or R-C-D, was at the
meeting, as was his rival, Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, who
heads a splinter R-C-D faction backed by Uganda.
Jean-Pierre Bembe, a millionaire businessman who heads
another Ugandan-backed rebel group operating in
northern Congo, was not at the meeting, but sent a
delegation to represent him.
A spokesman for Mr. Dia Wamba's faction said the rebel
groups expect to harmonize their positions on a cease-
fire signed four months ago in Zambia by the Congolese
government, the rebels and their respective allies.
But past efforts to bring the rebels together have
been in vain. Personal rivalries and mutual
accusations of corruption have deeply divided rebel
ranks, and officials at the meeting say it's doubtful
the rebels will form a united military front in their
fight against President Laurent Kabila.
They say the question of leadership, and the degree to
which allies Rwanda and Uganda should be involved in
rebel affairs, are major obstacles to unification.
(Signed)
NEB/TP/WTW
17-Dec-1999 19:56 PM EDT (18-Dec-1999 0056 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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