OWN CORRESPONDENT, Lusaka | Friday
JOSEPH Kabila, the new leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has earned universal praise for the new spark he has given to efforts to revive the DRC peace process.
Speakers at the DRC summit in Lusaka this week commended Kabila and expressed optimism that his pivotal role in the peace process would help achieve concrete results.
“We want to recognise the position taken by President Joseph Kabila, which is in fact a breakthrough,” said Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, leader of the rebel group Congolese Rally for Democracy.
Kabila turned 180 degrees from the stance taken by his late father Laurent Kabila, inviting former Botswana leader Ketumile Masire to Kinshasa in the coming days to discuss the peace process. The elder Kabila had categorically rejected Masire’s mediation in the peace process.
“The fact that in Joseph Kabila, Jean-Pierre Bemba (MLC leader) and Adolphe Onusumba (RCD-Goma), we have three young leaders with enlightened philosophies and a desire for peace and progress, augurs well for the future of the peace process,” said RCD-Goma’s new leader Adolphe Onusumba Yemba.
Valentin Senga, representing the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), “welcomed the change of discourse from the government of Kinshasa.”
The United Nations’ special representative to the DRC, Kamel Morjane, said he was pleased by Kabila’s attitude.
“It is a confirmation of his positive attitude for peace. I would like to encourage him to continue with the same spirit,” said Kamel.
Zambia’s President Frederick Chiluba, mediators of Thursday’s talks, warned that if the ceasefire agreement signed here in 1999 was not honoured, the international community would not take the peace process seriously.
“I fear that if we do not honour our commitment or implement the documents we sign, the international community will treat the DRC peace process with cynicism and ridicule,” Chiluba said.
While expressing concern at the lack of progress in the implementation of the peace accords already signed, the warring parties renewed their commitment to revive the peace process. Rwanda was not represented at the summit. – AFP
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