OWN CORRESPONDENT, Kabale, Uganda | Sunday 5.30pm.
TALKS aimed at uniting the three main rebel groups operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continued this weekend but the groups were under pressure from their allies and showed little enthusiasm, a rebel source said.
Mozambique was presiding over the talks in the southern Ugandan town of Kabale, which are aimed at uniting the three rebel movements trying to overthrow President Laurent Kabila, said a leading official from the main rebel group, the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD).
Mozambican officials were trying to find enough common ground to kickstart the talks which began on Friday but have not been greeted with enthusiasm by the leaders of the three movements.
The rebels are trying to agree at least a common agenda for negotiations and agreement over their political positions, according to the Rwandan Minister to the President’s office Patrick Mazimhaka.
All sides in the conflict have confirmed their respect for the ceasefire agreement signed in July and August in Lusaka, while still accusing each other of violating the accord.
While fighting continues — especially in Equateur province — the former president of Botswana Sir Ketumile Masire was chosen this week to mediate between the rebels and Kinshasa.
The RCD has sent a delegation of 15 people headed by the group’s chief Emile Ilunga to the talks.
Two other Ugandan-funded rebel factions, the Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) and a splinter group of the RCD called the RCD-Liberation Movement (RCD-ML), have sent eight and seven delegates to the talks respectively. — AFP