Relations Between Kampala And Kinshasa Warming Up

Jan 10, 2002

RELATIONS are warming up between Kampala and Kinshasa following latest talks held in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) capital.

By Emmy Allio and Yunusu Abbey RELATIONS are warming up between Kampala and Kinshasa following latest talks held in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) capital.Last week, Col. Kahinda Otafiire, the foreign affairs state minister (regional co-operation), and David Pulkol, the Director-General of the External Security Organisation, flew to Kinshasa and met DRC government officials.“Since Uganda is still committed to normalising relations with Congo, the two government officials went to Kinshasa for the same purpose,” said a source.But yesterday, it was still unclear whether the two officials met Congolese President Joseph Kabila. It was also not possible to ascertain if the issue of Uganda’s vandalised embassy in Kinshasa was raised in the discussions.“Despite the government efforts to normalise the ties, up to now, Taban Amin, son to former President Idi Amin, still occupies Uganda’s chancery and the ambassador’s residence in Kinshasa,” the source said.Taban, 41, occupied the embassy on Plot 17 Tombalbaye Avenue de Travailure after the late President Laurent Desire Kabila allegedly allowed his security agents to vandalise it.Taban reportedly claimed since he was a Ugandan and the diplomats had abandoned the property, he had the right to occupy and protect it.He seized the two properties soon after the Ugandan diplomats returned home in August 1998 after the relations between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo became strained. Reports say Taban heads a battalion of Ugandan rebels who form part of the alliance that include Zimbabwean, Angolan and Namibian armies the late Kabila organised to resist rebels and their Ugandan and Rwandan backers.Ends

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