If the presidential jet Inkwazi had not been used to take a minister and the president’s legal adviser to Kinshasa last month, there might not have been a government in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), director general in the Presidency Frank Chikane said on Thursday.
He was reacting to a newspaper report that the 18-seater jet was used, at a cost of about R270 000, to transport only two passengers — Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi and legal adviser Mojanku Gumbi — to the inauguration ceremony of the DRC’s new government.
Chikane told reporters in Pretoria that President Thabo Mbeki had sent the two to Kinshasa on June 26, following an urgent request for intervention from President Joseph Kabila.
”He asked South Africa, as part of the mediation team which had previously conducted negotiations in Pretoria, to intervene in a looming crisis which threatened the establishment of the new transitional government due to be inaugurated on 30 June 2003.”
Negotiations on the restructuring of the military — led by representatives of the five permanent member states of the United Nations’ Security Council, as well as an international committee comprising Canada, the European Union, Angola and Zambia — had broken down, Chikane said.
”President Kabila was of the view that the initial mediation team, of which South Africa was part, was the only one which could assist to deal with the crisis.”
The request was made on the morning of June 26, and the team had to be there by that night.
The first commercial flight to Kinshasa was only available three days later, and the SA National Defence Force could not find a private aircraft to contract.
”What was critical for us, was that if you didn’t actually get a team there, by Monday (June 30) you wouldn’t have a government and you’d set the process back again by many days…”
During three days of intense negotiations Gumbi, Mufamadi and UN special envoy Mustapha Niasse successfully facilitated an agreement which made it possible to establish the new government.
Mufamadi and Gumbi returned on the Sunday, and did not remain for the inauguration the next day, Chikane said.
”We [thought] that when there is an SOS message to respond, that is our responsibility and we make sure that it is done.”
About the cost, he said: ”That’s money required to spend to ensure peace on the continent.”
Gumbi said the negotiations between the different Congolese groups conducted in South Africa had helped them to lay a basis for future co-operation.
”It is quite clear they have found a level of comfort with one another which will enable all of them to move forward…”
Gumbi did not foresee major problems, but added that the transition was never expected to be easy.
The Congolese had long indicated that once its government was up and running, it would like to take over responsibility for the Ituri region, Gumbi said.
There is still an international military presence in the area, where tribal violence continues.
”We are quite hopeful that… once the international community moves out, the new government will be able to deal with that.”
The South African government would now help the DRC to design new government structures to re-establish state authority throughout the territory, she said. – Sapa