Central Africa: Congo Peace Talks Open Without Key Rebel Leader

26 February 2002
allAfrica.com
By Ofeibea Quist-Arcton

Sun City, South Africa — Four hours later than scheduled, the long-awaited Congo peace talks finally opened on Monday in the South African resort of Sun City, despite the absence of one of the main rebel leaders and a number of other key players. The talks aim to end a three and a half year war which has torn the country apart and devastated the economy.

Jean-Pierre Bemba, of the rebel Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), which controls a third of the divided nation, was earlier reported to be in Sun City. But he did not show up at the opening ceremony of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue (ICD) on Monday evening.

The office of the facilitator of the ICD, the former Botswana president Sir Ketumile Masire, acknowledged the absence of Bemba and other political leaders, but said they were expected to join the talks; meanwhile the discussions would start without them.

In attendance were President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the host president, South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki, as well as President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia, the current chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and Malawi’s President Bakili Muluzi, the current chairman of Southern African Development Community (SADC).

All the presidents spoke, except Kabila, although he was also scheduled to give a speech. Reuters News Agency obtained a copy of the intended address by Kabila which asked: "How is it that at the start of the third millennium, we live in a country of vast riches, but our population is one of the poorest and most miserable?" Kabila, who replaced his father Laurent as president after the latter's assassination in January 2001, said Congo was "facing the most decisive challenge in its history".

Also programmed to address the crowds at the opening were the names of rebel leaders and representatives from other groups, some present, some absent. None spoke and the seats reserved on the dais of those who stayed away were conspicuously empty.

Mbeki told the gathering of hundreds of Congolese government and opposition politicians, rebel representatives and civil society groups assembled in the Superbowl auditorium, that the success of the Sun City talks was key not only for Congo, but for the region and the whole of Africa. "We Africans have to show the world our capacity to solve our problems by peaceful means, " said the South African leader.

"The dialogue is about the future of our continent. It answers the question of whether we, as Africans, have the will and the capacity to pull our continent and our people out of misery," said Mbeki. He urged the warring factions to set aside their differences and focus on peace.

But, with the absence of a leading member of the armed opposition to Kabila and other members of the political opposition, observers are asking if the Sun City peace talks stand a chance.

Kabila’s information minister, Kikaya bin Karubi, told allAfrica.com his government was confident of success and had sent a high-level delegation to Sun City to show its commitment. Kikaya criticised Uganda-backed Bemba and other Congolese absentees for their non-appearance and warned that they would be judged by history as having failed the people of the DRC if they insisted on boycotting the talks.

Bemba was not available for comment on Monday, but he was earlier reported to have expressed dissatisfaction with what he considered inadequate representation of the opposition and the lack of 'transparency’ of the dialogue. He has also objected to the Kinshasa authorities’ refusal to negotiate the replacement of Kabila as president in the interim government.

The objectives of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue were originally laid out in the Lusaka Peace Accords of 1999, though there have been repeated ceasefire violations since. The deal would include agreement to chart the future course of democracy and the transition to true multiparty and constitutional government in Congo. Among the other thorny issues to be resolved are the crafting of an interim government, an election date and the restructuring of the Congolese armed forces.

Another feature of the talks will be the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Congolese soil. The rival rebels are backed by Rwanda and Uganda. The government of Joseph Kabila’s father, Laurent initially received support from Zimbabwe, Namibia Chad and Angola. The conflict in Congo has drawn in at least six countries and has been described as Africa’s first world war.

The South African government offered the Sun City venue for the Congolese peace talks, scheduled to last for the next 7 weeks, and is reported to be shouldering the lion’s share of the costs.

Preparatory Congo discussions in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, last October stalled after a week because of lack of funding from international donors and complaints by Congolese participants about organisation and representation.

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