Sunday, December 16, 2012

Democratic Republic of Congo President Kabila Plans to Unite Country

Kabila plans to unite divided country

Sunday, 16 December 2012 00:00

KINSHASA — Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila said yesterday he was planning an initiative aimed at uniting the central African nation, torn by an eastern rebellion and a furious political opposition.

“National cohesion must not be conditional, it must be open for all,” Kabila said in an address to parliament.

“An initiative will be taken shortly, the details to be decided in due course. There should not be a Congo for the majority and a separate one for the opposition.”

It was a rare public address by Kabila, who has been increasingly in the shadows since he was reelected in 2011 polls widely seen as fraudulent and since mutinous soldiers launched the M23 rebellion in resource-rich eastern Congo in April. He gave no details of the initiative, though M23 rebels have repeatedly demanded that Kabila open negotiations to address opposition grievances, along with their own.

Congo’s opposition has accused Kabila of stealing a 2011 election and of using security forces to stifle dissent.

Rebel and government representatives are in peace talks in neighbouring Uganda which began after the rebels withdrew from the provincial capital of North Kivu in eastern Congo.

Kabila said those talks were aimed at “clarifying the stakes and establishing the responsibilities”, but gave no further details. United Nations experts and the government in Kinshasa believe the rebellion is backed by neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda, claims those countries vehemently deny.

— Reuters.

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