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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DRC: Azarias Ruberwa named RCD-Goma leader

NAIROBI, 17 June 2003 (IRIN) - Azarias Ruberwa was on Monday appointed leader of the Rwandan-backed Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) rebel movement, replacing Adolphe Onusumba Yemba, who had held the post since October 2000, RTNC radio reported from Goma on Tuesday.

Ruberwa, one of four vice president-designates of a national transitional government, had previously served as RCD-Goma secretary-general, also since October 2000.

Ruberwa becomes the fourth head of the RCD-Goma movement after Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, Emile Ilunga Kalambo and Onusumba, who would be appointed to other functions within the movement, AFP cited Crispin Kabasele Tshimanga, head of RCD-Goma's International Relations Department, as saying.

Kabasele Tshimanga said the appointment was made by the movement's college of founding members "in the context of [RCD-Goma's] transformation into a political party", AFP reported.

Ruberwa, a 38 year-old lawyer, is a Congolese Tutsi, or Munyamulenge, hailing from the Hauts Plateaux region of South Kivu Province in eastern DRC.

RTNC reported other appointments as including Raphael Katebe Katoto as first vice president and Eugene Serufuli Ngayabaseka, the current governor of North Kivu Province, as second vice president. Katubalundi Babo was appointed secretary-general, the post vacated by Ruberwa, while Francis Bedi Mabele was named deputy secretary-general and Jean-Marie Emungu Ehumba was named treasurer.

AFP reported that Kabasele Tshimanga would remain head of RCD-Goma's International Relations Department, while Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga would remain head of communications.

Theme(s): (IRIN) Conflict

[ENDS]

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