HANNES DE WET & MARIETTE LE ROUX, Sun City | Tuesday
TALKS aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing Democratic Republic of Congo civil war got off to an uncertain start at Sun City on Monday when the opening ceremony began four hours late without the presence of opposition politicians.
There were also scenes of near violence at the venue, when a group of self-proclaimed DRC exiles tried to gain entry with an alleged fake invitation.
At the accreditation point, tension ran high as members of rival political parties jostled each other and soldiers had to restore order.
Addressing the opening session, peace facilitator Ketumile Masire announced the absence of what he described as the ”political opposition”, adding: ”But I expect all components to be present tomorrow, when we will continue with the proceedings of this dialogue.”
He said negotiations on the issue of representivity were continuing.
”But my belief is that the Inter-Congolese Dialogue has achieved the principle of inclusivity.”
The Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC), which controls about a third of the DRC, last week threatened to stay away from the peace talks, contending that many political parties invited were not true opposition groups but fronts for supporters of DRC President Joseph Kabila.
It was not clear whether the MLC turned up for Monday’s proceedings.
South African Foreign Affairs representative Dumisani Rasheleng earlier in the day said MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba had arrived, but other sources placed him in Pretoria.
The opening session, scheduled to have started at 2.30pm, was delayed by ”behind-the-scenes” discussions between heads of state present.
They were South African President Thabo Mbeki and his counterparts Bakili Muluzi (Malawi), Levy Mwanawasa (Zambia) and Kabila.
Speakers at the opening urged the warring parties to put aside their personal agendas and focus on the interests of the nation.
Muluzi, also chairman of the Southern African Development Community, described the civil war as a ”crime against humanity” that had to be ended forthwith.
”We cannot afford to let this very sad situation go on,” he said.
”The people of the DRC have suffered for too long. Certainly God did not create them to suffer, but to enjoy equally the enormous natural wealth, including diamonds, gold, timber… with which the country is endowed.”
Mwanawasa, who chairs the Organisation for African Unity, told the gathering more than 3,6-million people have been killed in the DRC conflict — more than the combined populations of Botswana, Namibia and the Seychelles.
”Are the lives of our people so cheap that we should sacrifice them so in the pursuit of ideals?
”Your country has bled enough. Your people have chosen you to come here and stop the bleeding. Do not disappoint them.”
Mbeki, the first speaker, said the outcome of the talks would show whether Africans had the will to solve their problems by peaceful means. The negotiations were about the future of the African continent.
”What you do will help to inform the answer to the question whether we, as Africans, have the will and capacity to solve our problems by peaceful means.”
The group who tried to enter the Superbowl with an alleged fake invitation claimed they were exiled members of the DRC opposition party Union for Democratic and Social Progress.
Spokesman Denis Kimwana Nakeya, claimed the peace negotiations were not representative of all DRC parties.
He said the group would not move, adding: ”We will fight.”
Nakeya demanded an audience with Masire.
A representative for Masire, George Ola-Davies, maintained the group could not be allowed in without accreditation.
”Don’t come to us with such bullshit,” Nakeya shouted.
The disruption at the accreditation point was short-lived, eyewitnesses said. Impatience with the slow processing apparently contributed to the tension.
The talks bring together more than 300 delegates representing some 20 DRC political parties, rebel groups and civil society.
The negotiations, scheduled to last for 45 days, were the result of a peace accord signed in Lusaka in 1999 by all warring parties, excluding the two armed rebel groups the MLC and the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD).
The three-and-a-half-year civil war in the DRC has drawn in half-a-dozen foreign armies and a myriad of armed groups.
MLC rebels are backed by Uganda, and those from the RCD by Rwanda. The DRC government has been supported by troops from Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Namibia has since withdrawn its soldiers from the DRC, while Angola is in the process of doing so.
Masire implored delegates to adopt a selfless approach to the talks.
”A great responsibility rests on you to deliver your country from self-annihilation,” he said. – Sapa