DRC proxy war irks ministers
Dec 20, 2002
African foreign ministers and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rebel groups have warned that although a cease-fire was largely holding in the DRC, a proxy war was still being waged in the east.
By Grace Matsiko
and Agencies
African foreign ministers and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rebel groups have warned that although a cease-fire was largely holding in the DRC, a proxy war was still being waged in the east.
“The cease-fire has continued to hold along the conventional lines which constitute a fundamental element on the DRC cease-fire agreement, but a proxy war continues,†the foreign ministers said in a communiqué released at the end of a two-day meeting in Kampala on Thursday.
“The political committee is concerned about the continued fighting among Congolese groups especially the situation in Ituri Province, where a pacification committee to stabilise the security situation has not yet been established,†the communiqué said.
The ministers were alluding to the fact that although the countries that signed the cease-fire agreement had not fought Kinshasa directly, they were still using groups to fight the government.
The meeting was convened to discuss the implementation of the DRC cease-fire agreements. Foreign ministers and officials from the DRC and Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, which all had troops deployed at the height of the war, as well of the United Nations and African Union, attended.
The communiqué said the meeting of the political committee of the Lusaka peace accord, had noted, with satisfaction, “substantial progress made so far on DRC’s peace process.â€
The Third Deputy Prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, James Wapakhabulo, was elected to lead the committee. He replaces Angola’s Joao Bernado de Miranda.
and Agencies
African foreign ministers and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rebel groups have warned that although a cease-fire was largely holding in the DRC, a proxy war was still being waged in the east.
“The cease-fire has continued to hold along the conventional lines which constitute a fundamental element on the DRC cease-fire agreement, but a proxy war continues,†the foreign ministers said in a communiqué released at the end of a two-day meeting in Kampala on Thursday.
“The political committee is concerned about the continued fighting among Congolese groups especially the situation in Ituri Province, where a pacification committee to stabilise the security situation has not yet been established,†the communiqué said.
The ministers were alluding to the fact that although the countries that signed the cease-fire agreement had not fought Kinshasa directly, they were still using groups to fight the government.
The meeting was convened to discuss the implementation of the DRC cease-fire agreements. Foreign ministers and officials from the DRC and Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, which all had troops deployed at the height of the war, as well of the United Nations and African Union, attended.
The communiqué said the meeting of the political committee of the Lusaka peace accord, had noted, with satisfaction, “substantial progress made so far on DRC’s peace process.â€
The Third Deputy Prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, James Wapakhabulo, was elected to lead the committee. He replaces Angola’s Joao Bernado de Miranda.