United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
Joseph Tshimanga
18 January 2008
Day 12 of the Goma conference on peace, security and development for the Kivu provinces continued on Thursday 17 January 2008, with sub-commissions organised around four themes of politics, security, development and humanitarian issues. The debate was dominated by the issue of granting an amnesty to certain belligerents, including Laurent Nkunda.
The delegates of various communities, professional associations, politicians and experts invited to the Goma conference found themselves in several sub-commissions.
The debates consisted in contributing to the work elaborated by the technical secretariat on the following topics, to formulate resolutions and recommendations in: policy (role of the state, identity, reconciliation), security (reform of the sector, disarmament of Congolese and foreign combatants, monitoring of the borders), development (town and country planning, governorship) and humanitarian issues (assistance to displaced, return of refugees).
In the sub-commission on North Kivu armed groups, the opportunity of granting an amnesty to certain belligerents divided the participants, particularly Laurent Nkunda, who is under an arrest warrant for war crimes.
"In the name of national reconciliation Mr. Nkunda could be amnestied, to avoid another war for this ravaged province," said some participants.
"The warrant of arrest for war crimes launched against Laurent Nkunda must be carried out, which is in conformity with the constitution of the republic and the laws of the country. There is not only the Congolese government which must pursue Mr. Nkunda, the international community is also interested in his file for many crimes against humanity. Therefore Mr. Nkunda must undergo the rigour of the law. Impunity should not reside in Congolese justice any more," said one of the participants.
When questioned on the street, many Congolese citizens living in Goma echoed these sentiments.
"We find it difficult to reconcile forgiveness (amnesty) with this lord of war who for us does not represent peace, truth, love and justice," said a university student.
Participants suggested transferring the question of amnesty to the conference "committee of the wise".
Civil society dissatisfied
While the stormy debate on the fate of Laurent Nkunda continued, some South Kivu civil society members left the conference, as they had not yet received their accommodation and eating expenses. Their case would later have to be regulated by the conference organisers.
Reconciliation: With who and how?
Under political topics: the role of the state, identity and reconciliation, marked the debates in the sub-commissions. On the progress achieved, it was confirmed that there is conflicts in both provinces involving political personalities and different interests, a manipulation of ethnic communities and a climate of permanent mistrust between communities.
The actors involved are numerous: political leaders of the Kivus from 1960 to date, including ethnic communities (Yira, Hutu, Tutsi, Kumu, Hunde, Tembo, Nyanga, Kano, Twa); and the Congolese state (government, justice, army, police, parliament).
With many conflicts, many actors and many challenges, it is necessary to break down barriers and create confidence between political personalities and communities, and to achieve a durable peace in the two provinces with good security for development.
There are obstacles, however: a lack of dialogue between the leaders of the various political groups (AMP, political opposition, CNDP, PPRD); and the lack of young political and social leaders.
Solutions suggested at this stage of discussions in the peace sub-commission include: to find the truth to the history of the Kivu crisis; to put an end to impunity; to reconcile the political actors, people and civil society; mutual acceptance and a competence based equal division of power, integrity and ethnic sensitivity and the signing of an act of engagement for a durable peace.
These resolutions, among many others, will be debated in the sub-commissions and will be harmonized with the North and South Kivu workshops results, to be ready for the final plenary meeting of the conference, scheduled for 21 January 2008.
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