DATE=8/2/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGO FIGHTING (L-O)
NUMBER=2-265062
BYLINE=KATY SALMON
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Rwanda says the government of Congo-Kinshasa
and its allies have launched a new offensive against
rebels. As Katy Salmon reports, the news comes on the
second anniversary of the start of the Congo civil war
- indicating that a peace accord signed last year has
all but collapsed.
TEXT: Rwandan officials say the latest attacks by the
government of Congo-Kinshasa reactivated the war in
all parts of the front. Rwanda, which is backing the
rebels, says there have been at least 20 attacks on
the southern Kasai area since June and that its forces
are returning fire.
An African-brokered cease-fire in Congo was signed
one-year ago. But all sides in the conflict have been
accused of violating the agreement.
The United Nations agreed in February to send five-
thousand troops to monitor the cease-fire. But it
called off plans to deploy the first unit last week
after Mr. Kabila refused to let the U-N troops go to
areas under his control.
The war in Congo-Kinshasa has been dubbed - Africa's
first world war. Troops from six-countries in the
Great Lakes region and nine rebel groups are involved.
Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi are supporting rebels
groups fighting the Congolese government. Zimbabwe,
Namibia, and Angola are backing Mr. Kabila's
government.
Officials say at least 35-thousand soldiers, including
many children, have been involved in the fighting.
More than 100-thousand fighters and civilians are said
to have been killed since the war started two-years
ago.
Congo-Kinshasa is one of the world's richest
countries, in terms of natural resources. Critics
charge that the six foreign countries entered the war
- at least in part - to gain access to Congo's
diamonds, gold, and timber.
Mr. Kabila came to power in 1997, ousting the leader
of the country that was then called Zaire, Mobutu Sese
Seko. Rwanda and Uganda aided Mr. Kabila's forces in
an effort to stop cross-border raids by Rwandan and
Ugandan rebels who were based in Zaire.
Mr. Kabila soon fell out with his two former allies,
who then went to the aid of rebel groups trying to
unseat him. The fighting started in the east of the
country on August 2nd 1998 and quickly escalated into
a regional conflict. Rebel groups now occupy nearly
one-half of the country. (SIGNED)
NEB/KS/JWH/RAE
02-Aug-2000 11:04 AM EDT (02-Aug-2000 1504 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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