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Rwanda: Negative Start to DR Congo Peace Conference
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The New Times (Kigali)
8 January 2008
Posted to the web 8 January 2008
Felix Muheto
Kigali
A roundtable Conference on Peace, Security and Development in the Kivus opened on Sunday at Université Libre des pays des Grands Lacs in Goma without the presence of DR Congo President Joseph Kabila.
Being the prominent authority that initiated the conference, Kabila had been expected to attend Sunday's opening, at least to highlight the importance he accorded to it, but he surprisingly pulled out at the last minute. President Kabila's failure to attend has been interpreted by analysts as a sign that nothing tangible will come out of the ongoing conference.
Regional countries as well as international and multilateral organizations have been invited to participate in this Conference. The Conference also brought together the representatives of all communities from the eastern DRC, national and internationals NGOs, international community, civil society, national and provincial ministers and parliamentarians from Kivus, CNDP delegates and some delegates from regional countries.
Political representatives from the DRC militia groups, PARECO, MAI MAI created to combat Nkunda's rebellion have also attended. Nkunda's CNDP has also sent a delegation to this conference, an indication that he is willing to negotiate. It is important to note however that, according to article 2 of the Conference Internal Regulations, "the Conference's purpose will be to consider and propose to the government means and ways of how to build the frameworks of sustainable peace in the North and South Kivu provinces."
The conference bureau will later submit the agreed proposals to the Cabinet for approval with the State Minister of internal affairs, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister in charge of Budget acting as the key government officials responsible for the implementation of the resolutions of this Conference.
Indeed, in his opening address, Interior Minister Gen. Denis Kalume who represented President Kabila, reminded the participants that "this conference is not meant for power sharing or to negotiate with any body but to jointly spell out any thing which would return peace in both Kivus." While the Chairman of the organizing committee of the Conference, Fr Malu Malu insisted that "the conference is not the venue to change the constitutional order or challenge institutions resulting from last year elections."
Instead, in what would appear contrary to the very spirit of the conference, the minister summoned all renegade Congolese armed groups to lay down their weapons and be integrated into the national army.
And somehow out of point, Kalume also called for foreign militia to join a voluntary disarmament programme that would lead to their repatriation under the protection of the international community, putting forward the Alliance for the Presidential Majority expressed "common position that the question of FDLR is an international issue and must be solved by the International Community" through the FDLR illusory wished inter Rwandese dialogue.
One should remember here however that, under the deal reached in Nairobi, Congolese and Rwandan foreign ministers agreed that Congo's army would forcibly disarm the Rwandan Hutu rebels operating in the east. Instead, a growing body of evidence indicates that the Congolese government continues to collaborate with the FDLR. Though these militias were not formally invited, there is information that a delegation of six FDLR representatives are already in Goma, at the sidelines of the conference.
They are reportedly residing at the residences of Hutu extremists such as MP Barihima and Sekimonyo who share the same agenda with the FDLR. Currently, MP Barihima together with the FDLR President, Ignace Murwanashyaka are seriously campaigning for the FDLR representatives to attend the Conference. Though the DRC government officially announced the suspension of all military operations against rebels in Nord-Kivu in order to lay the groundwork for the talks, facts on ground indicate continued troop movements and reinforcements.
As a matter of fact, the FARDC has continued to reorganise and has continued its troop movements, an indication that it is preparing for war. Available information indicates that the FARDC eighth Military Region is being reinforced by Bdes from the nineth and 10th Military regions. The 17th Brigade from the nineth Military region is currently moving its troops to Rutshuro-Nyanzale axis to replace the 15th Brigade commanded by Col. Mwungura (Munyamulenge).
The eighth Brigade from the 10th Military region is also currently moving its forces to Minova, Karuba-Ngungu axis to replace the 14th Brigade under Col. Rugayi (a Hutu). Accused of collaboration with the enemy, Col. Rugayi, was arrested on December 30, 2007 and is currently detained at the FARDC 10th Military region Headquarters in Bukavu.
Analysts have already expressed doubts about the outcome of this conference arguing that it only aims at giving legitimacy to Kabila both locally and internationally as a pacifist, whilst he mobilizes public support to wage war against Nkunda.
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Even local stakekeholders are not quite at ease with the undertakings and most of all the way it was prepared. Since the advertisement of the holding of the conference, civil society representatives from North and South Kivu have been threatening to boycott the conference.
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referring to the above mentioned article, i just want to point out the pescimism expressed by the author who can hardly hiden his tendency.
He appears more like a laurent nkunda's spokeman...we could expect a more balanced point of view from a journalist working with such an important news website.
The recent history of the drc have displayed the key role played by dialogue in terms of rebuilding the nation.
The president kabila took the best decision by organizing such a conference involving all the stakeholders in the kivu's crisis.
Dialogue is not easy but is a must in the... [Read Full Text]
YANGAI LILOBA EZALI BOYE,NKUNDA AZALI NANI NAKATI YA PLUS 450 BIKOLO TOZALI NAYANGO NA KATI YA KONGO? BISO TO YEBAKA TRIBALISM TE, KAKA EKOLO OYO MOKO YA LE SOIS DISANT GENERAL NDE EKOTISI MAKAMBO OYO NAMBOKA YA BISO.GENERAL OYO TO YEBI MAKAMBO NAYE, YE NA RWA- NDA. GROUP OYO EYEBAKA QUE SOKI BAKONTINUER KO BO- MISA BA CONGOLAIS YE NA PRESIDENT KAGAME ATA NDELE BAKOSUKAKA MABE. PRESIDENT KABILA PEUX AZA SISPECT SOKI ANDIMI BA EXIGENCES YA BATU BATONDI MAKILA NA MABOKO. NOUS DEVONS CONSTRUIR MAINTENANT NOTRE PAYS, QUE LES PAYS ETRANGERS VIENNENT INVESTIR DANS NOTRE PAYS, QUE LE... [Read Full Text]
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