Kabila pays salaries to Nyamwisi rebels

By John B. Thawite in Beni FOR the first time in four years, the Kinshasa government at the weekend started paying salaries to civil servants and soldiers in rebel Mbusa Nyamwisi’s RCD Kisangani administration. Flights have also resumed between Beni and Kinshasa.The payments were effected by the Kinshasa minister of public service, Benjamin Mukulungu, amid excitement by the beneficiaries.Mukulungu, declined to mention the number of Nyamwisi’s Congolese Peoples’ Army (ACP) rebels.He said 34,000 public servants were paid by the Kabila government.Mukulungu said the payment was part of Kinshasa’s good will towards the new peace initiative in a new wave of re-integration between the two foes.But Mukulungu attacked the Congolese Liberation Movement (MCL) leader, Jean Pierre Bemba for allegedly frustrating the peace initiative and even hampering Kinshasa from paying salaries to public servants in and beyond Gbadolite, Bemba’s stronghold.