/ 19 July 2001

DRC CEASEFIRE HOLDING, SITUATION TENUOUS

THE six-month ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo is holding, but the situation in the giant central African nation remains fragile, the UN special envoy to the region said on Wednesday. Kamel Morjane, the Special Representative of Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the DRC said while the situation was a great deal better compared with last year, but difficulties remained, particularly in the east where fighting between Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels known as the RCD and troops loyal to President Joseph Kabila continues. “I told the Security Council that we have not yet reached the non-return point,” Morjane said, adding that negotiations with RCD to withdraw from the northeastern city of Kisangani continue. – AFP