The elation of warring Congolese parties over a long-awaited peace agreement on Wednesday was tempered by warnings that tough times lay ahead.
”No one must imagine that this deal will implement itself,” said United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan after the signing ceremony at the Sun City resort in the North West province.
”The most difficult process still lies ahead.”
South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki had a similar message. ”Your problems will originate both from within the Congo and from elsewhere, outside your borders,” he said.
”To overcome them, will require a single-minded commitment to serve the people of the Congo.”
All sides in the civil war, which has plagued the Democratic Republic of Congo for the past four years, signed a deal to work together in rebuilding their country.
The agreement provides for a two-year transitional government that will guide the vast central African country to its first democratic elections in 40 years.
The ceremony signalled the end of what has been dubbed the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, a marathon process of peace talks beginning about 14 months ago.
The main Congolese rebel leaders vowed to turn their backs on war, saying their country had entered a new era with the signing of the transitional government accord.
”War is no longer part of our destiny,” said Jean-Pierre Bemba, leader of the Movement for Liberation of Congo (MLC).
Adolphe Onusumba, who heads the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), described the new treaty as ”a victory of love over hate”.
”This is a memorable day that will mark in golden letters the history of the Congo.”
DRC Foreign Minister Leonard She Okitundu said the signing represented a mission accomplished. A speech by Mai-Mai leader Anselme Enerunga, however, underscored caution that much work still lay head.
He expressed anger at his group being excluded from top positions in the new army. ”How can this be when rebel movements who massacred our people and helped loot our country get top posts?”
This created the impression of people being rewarded for waging war, Enerunga said. He also complained about foreign troops still operating in the north of the country.
Mbeki also touched on continuing conflict, saying violence in the Itui region was unacceptable.
”Nobody should or will be allowed to gain whatever advantage they seek by populating the DRC with the cadavers of innocent Congolese people,” he said.
”The conflict in Ituri has to end as a matter of the greatest urgency.”
Okitundu urged the international community to pressurise Rwanda not to disturb the peace in the DRC. Rwanda, which backed the RCD in the civil war, has been accused of redeploying troops in the northern parts of the DRC — a claim it has denied.
Peace facilitator Sir Ketumile Masire ended Wednesday’s proceedings by hailing the agreement as a victory for peace, love and reconciliation. ”The destiny of your country is in your hands. I wish you the best of luck,” Masire said. – Sapa