(27 Jul 1999) Eng/French/Nat
The embattled president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Laurent Kabila, has called on South African President, Thabo Mbeki, to pressure the rebels who are trying to topple his government into signing the current ceasefire agreement.
Kabila made the request during the second day of his visit to South Africa on Tuesday.
After meeting former president Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on Monday, he
travelled to the presidential offices of Mbeki in Pretoria.
The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Laurent Kabila, met South African President, Thabo Mbeki, at his presidential offices in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Kabila asked Mbeki to pressure the rebels who are trying to topple his government into signing the current ceasefire agreement.
Some of the rebels have not yet signed the ceasefire because they cannot agree on who should represent one of the two groups.
The six nations involved in the 11-month conflict signed the accord on July 10th, and
two rebel groups have signed so far.
Rebels launched the challenge to Kabila last August, with backing from Uganda and Rwanda.
Those countries claim that Kabila has harboured genocide militia who assisted in the
slaughter of 500-thousand Rwandan Tutsis in 1994.
Asked if South Africa's Foreign Minister Nkosazana Zuma was carrying a special message to Uganda and Rwanda, Mbeki said the main goals were an end to the fighting and the rebel's signature on the ceasefire agreement.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We sent our foreign minister this morning to Kampala, she is in Kampala now, and we meet with President Museveni today and will then proceed later today to Kigali to meet with President Bizimungu to support the processes in which President Kabila is involved, to secure the signatures of the rebels."
SUPER CAPTION: Thabo Mbeki, South African President
Kabila claimed that many of the rebels were already giving up the fight.
SOUNDBITE: (French/English translation)
"The rebels in my country now are giving in, are giving up arms by the hundreds in my country now. I think this is a new element that was not foreseen in the framework of the ceasefire. They say they are coming back because President Kabila has granted an amnesty and also because a ceasefire agreement has been signed and that they were enrolled by force."
SUPER CAPTION: Laurent Kabila, DR Congolese President
He seemed confident of victory.
SOUNDBITE: (French/English translation)
"So in my opinion you should not doubt the capacity of the Congolese people to win the war."
SUPER CAPTION: Laurent Kabila, DR Congolese President
After the meeting with Mbeki, said he was hopeful that the rebels would sign the ceasefire agreement.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I hope they will sign. I hope."
SUPER CAPTION: Laurent Kabila, DR Congolese President
Kabila was widely supported when he overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997 and swept to power in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
But in just over a year, Kabila is now being threatened by the rebel troops who brought him to power.
The rebels accuse Kabila of corruption, nepotism, tribalism and mismanagement.
Earlier this month, Zambia hosted the signing of the ceasefire agreement by the leaders of eight African nations.
Before the signing, Kabila was sworn in as the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The next day, Kabila arrived to sign the peace accord to end the 11-month civil war in his country.
But then, as now, the Congolese rebels said they would battle on despite the signing of the accord.
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