Defeated Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba was sheltering in the South African embassy in Kinshasa on Friday after a day of clashes between his guards and DRC troops.
At least two civilians were killed and a dozen wounded on Thursday in the violence in the capital Kinshasa, which had been calm since fighting after historic elections last year left about 30 people dead.
One of those killed was a worker for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a diplomatic source said. One Belgian and one French citizen were among the wounded.
The United Nations peacekeeping force in the vast, war-torn central African nation said it had evacuated more than 600 people caught up in the fierce fighting in Kinshasa’s Gombe district.
Fighting broke out mid-morning near Bemba’s home, prompting residents to flee their homes and schools and ministries to close.
Tensions have been rising in Kinshasa since the government of President Joseph Kabila announced last week that it intended to scale down the military force protecting Bemba, a formal rebel leader.
Bemba and Azarias Ruberwa, whose rebel movements battled Kinshasa until 2003, were vice-presidents during a post-war transition to democratic rule overseen by the United Nations.
The transition ended last year with the first democratic elections here in more than four decades. Kabila was inaugurated as president in December following a second round victory over Bemba.
Both Bemba and Ruberwa oppose the withdrawal of their military protection, saying a guard of 12 police officers is insufficient.
The United Nations and the European Union urged a ceasefire, and Bemba himself called for such a move, telling the UN-backed independent Okapi radio network that he was ready to talk to ”whoever wants to see peace” and urging his followers to stop fighting and return to barracks.
But the gunfire did not stop, with sporadic shots heard into the night.
The government accused Bemba, whose guards clashed with troops last year following the elections leaving around 30 dead, of breaking his promise of never resorting to violence again.
”The government of the republic will ensure the rule of law as we are a state based upon laws,” said government spokesperson Toussaint Tshilombo Send.
Late Thursday, Bemba sought refuge at the South African embassy.
”Mr Bemba has been taken in temporarily. He absolutely has not made any demand for asylum,” South Africa’s deputy ambassador Kenneth Pedro told Agence France-Presse.
”He didn’t feel safe in his home. He wanted to be able to continue working. He is our guest. It will be temporary.”
William Lacy Swing, the head of the UN mission in the DRC (Monuc), has been in contact with both sides in an effort to defuse the situation.
Monuc peacekeepers evacuated over 600 people who had been trapped in the fighting.
Those taken to safety included UN personnel, foreign embassy staff, school children and wounded civilians, said Monuc spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Didier Rancher.
”The most complicated thing in this situation is that there is no frontline. Gunmen from both sides set up wherever they can, in the streets, in the gardens and in the buildings,” a diplomat said.
”They are firing at each other but most often they are firing blind. There are a lot of stray bullets.” – Sapa-AFP