OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Monday 9.30pm
A REBEL army faction has seized power in two eastern towns of the Democratic Republic of Congo and has stated that its aim is to overthrow President Laurent Kabila.
Fighting has also been reported in Kinshasa and other centres in the east of the country.
Unconfirmed reports say that several senior officials, including the Foreign Minister, Bizima Karaha, who is a Tutsi, have fled the country.
The DRC’s army 10th Battalion has seized power in Goma and Bukuvu. Sylvain Mbuchi, commander of the 10th battalion, said on radio on the weekend: “We, the DRC army, have decided to seize power from President Kabila. In the name of government troops, we denounce the regime.”
The rebellion is believed to have been sparked by Kabila’s order, last week, that all foreign troops should leave the country. Rwandan Tutsis fought alongside DRC troops last year to oust Mobutu Sese Seko and put Kabila in power. The Rwandans are now believed to be at the heart of the uprising, according to the BBC.
Richard Cornwall, an analyst from the Institute of Security Studies at Midrand, Gauteng, said on SABC3 that the situation is “very, very serious indeed” and threatens to destabilise the entire area. “What we may be facing is a Central African meltdown,” he said. In Kinshasa, Communications Minister Didier Mumengi said on radio: “Some unpatriotic people have taken to arms to disrupt public order.” He pledged to put “all these unpatriotic people out of action”. A three-day dusk-to-dawn curfew has been announced.