OWN CORRESPONDENT, Goma | Wednesday 11.15PM.
THE government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has cancelled the passports of up to 20 former members of President Laurent Kabila’s regime because they have gone over to the rebels, DRC state radio has reported.
Former foreign minister Bizima Karaha and former army chief Deogratias Buguera were among those accused of “serious breaches”.
Meanwhile the border between the DRC and Rwanda has been re-opened between Goma and Gisenyi. The border was closed by Rwanda on August 2 after the Tutsi-led rebellion broke out in eastern DRC.
The rebels, Congolese Tutsis (Banyamulenge) wjo form a greater part of the DRC armed forces and who were instrumental in bringing Kabila to power a year ago, claim to be closing on the capital, Kinshasa, with 60,000 troops. They also claim to have gained control of the strategically important south-western towns of Moanda, Banana and Boma, and say they are about to take the river port of Matadi. Rebel control of Moanda has been confirmed by authorities in the Angolan enclave of Cabinda (see story below).
The DRC government has denied that the rebels are in Boma and matadi, and claim to have retaken the eastern towns of Bukavu and Uvira.
A four-nation team set up to stop the fighting in DRC has meanwhile arrived in Uganda for talks with President Yoweri Museveni, State House spokesperson Hope Kivengere said on Wednesday.
She said arrangements are being made for the four foreign ministers from Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe to hold talks with Museveni, whose government has been accused by Kabila of invading the DRC in support of the rebellion. Rwanda has also been accused of “invading” the DRC, and Kabila has threatened to retaliate with force.
A member of the delegation met Kabila on Wednesday, but has given no indication of the result of the talks.