CONGO DEVELOPMENTS XXVII
Chronicle: 1 November - 5 December 1998
Sources: ACP, NCN, Congonline, Le Soir
Sunday 1 November 1998
- On 30/10 the UN-information service IRIN reports among others
as follows:
In North-Katanga the situation is unclear: the government and the
rebels both say that they are in control of the town Kabalo.
Kinshasa says that it has also reconquered the town Nyunzu, east
of Kabalo. In the neigbourhood of these places there are about
20 to 40.000 displaced persons. In Kisangani the situation is
precarious: there is a serious shortage of food. In South-Kivu
there are some 15.000 D.P.'s who have fled from the towns Goma,
Bukavu and Uvira. About 32.000 people from the region of Masisi
and Walikale have taken refuge in Goma.
- In Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, a march of protest is held
against the government. People are protesting against a.o. the
involvement of Zimbabwe in the Congolese war; they accuse Mugabe
of having personal commercial interests in the military presence
of the country in Congo.
- In Lubumbashi a meeting takes place between Kabila, Nujoma,
Mugabe and Dos Santos.
Monday 2 November 1998
- Roberto Garreton, the Special Rapporteur of the UN for Congo,
makes in his report (30/10) mention of human rights abuses on
both sides, rebels and government. The report contains little new
information, but refers to facts around the abortive probe of the
UN-team for murders on Hutu refugees during the progress of the
AFDL troops in 1996 and 1997.
- Susan Rice, State Secretary-adjoint for African Affairs of the
Clinton administration, repeats in a message after her visit to
Kinshasa that "peace, development and the safety guarantee for
Tutsi are the starting points for the US". She dissuades the
allies of Kabila to support the war.
- In an article in Jeune Afrique Francis-Marie Lewa explains the
precarious financial situation of the Congolese State. Since the
beginning of the rebellion in August the Treasury is almost
empty. A means to get money for the war is found in establishing
a State office for diamond sale. To that end Kabila created on
11 September the "Service d'achat des substances minerales
precieuses" (Sasmip). The inhabitants of Kasai (the province were
most diamonds are found) do not behave very friendly to the
central power in Kinshasa.
Wednesday 4 November 1998
- In North- and South Kivu the rebels show agressive towards the
Catholic hierarchy. In danger (some fugitive) are: bishop
Gapangwa of Uvira, vicar Kanyamachumbi of Goma, bishop Runiga of
Mahagi-Nioka, and Bishop Ngabu of Goma.
- The Congolese minister of Commerce, Victor Mondonga, is in
Harare for talks with representatives of the Zimbabwean
government to improve the trade connections between the
countries.
Thursday 5 November 1998
- The European ministers of Foreign Affairs press the Rwandan
leaders for admitting that Rwanda has troops in Congo. This
announcement was made after a meeting of the ministers with
representatives of SADC in Vienna.
- The Congolese Ministry of Justice published a list of
organisations that will be asked for comment to the draft
constitution. It concerns a.o. ecclesiastic institutions, NGO's,
universities and trade unions.
- It seems that the direction of the mining company Gecamines is
entrusted to the Zimbabwean businessman Mr Billy Rautenbach, who
is also manager of the Richpoint Company. (This company has
already made a technical deal with the Congolese government on
September 29)
Friday 6 November 1998
- IRIN reports a number of 40 till 60 000 troops of rebels in
East Congo; nearly 30 000 are Congolese and the others Ugandans
and Ruandans.
IRIN reports also the outbreak of cholera in Shabundu.
Saturday 7 November 1998
- Ruandan leader Kagame has admitted that Ruandan troops are in
Congo. He made this statement in Pretoria at an audience
with president Mandela.
- The Catholic bishops have published a message. They reject the
exterior agression and ask for negotiations between "all the sons
of Congo".
Monday 9 November 1998
- Angola has transported military reinforcements to Kananga (West
Kasai) and Mbuyi Mayi (East Kasai).
The rebels say to have three fronts now, in the North, the South
East and the Centre of Congo.
-A delegation of the Congolese bishops has visited Kabila.
Tuesday 10 November 1998
- The rebels are brought under common leadership of the Ugandan
general James Kazini.
The Ruandans say to prepare a total war against Congo.
-Kyungu wa Kumwanza, Congolese ambassador in Kenya, communicates
that Kabila has demanded the U.N. to restart the investigation
of the massacre of Hutu refugees in 1996 and 1997. He says that
the Ruandans are the perpetrators of that massacre.
-The U.N. reports that two thirds of the Hutu refugees who were
staying in the Central African Republic have now departed to
Mbandaka in Congo. It concerns 940 people.
Wednesday 11 November 1998
-The commission for the elections in Congo has set up 3 sections:
identification, arbitration, budget and material.
The commission is conducted by Mulumba Katchy, deputy-minister
of Home Affairs.
Friday 13 November 1998
-Omar Kadjalami, minister of Defence of Chad, has recognized that
Chadish troops are fighting in Congo to support the Congolese
government. At the end of Octobre a Chadish patrol is reported
to have been ambushed. Ten soldiers were injured and two of them
have died.
- Andre Kapanga, Congolese U.N.ambassador, presented to the
Security Council a letter of protest against the murder of
Congolese people by Ruandan and Ugandan military.
Saturday 14 November 1998
-Dr. Sondji, Congolese minister of Health, is fired by Kabila on
Friday 13. Before he criticized in a transmission of the Voice
of America the procedure around the draft-constitution. The
Congolese journal la Reference Plus has rejected this
dictatorial measure by Kabila, and refered also to the minister
of Justice, Kongolo, who just fired 315 magistrats.
-The civil society has formulated his critics on the draft-
constitution. Their representatives think that too much power
is attributed to the President. They reject the fact that the
political parties do not have the possibility to discuss the
draft-constitution and they ask setting up of a Constitutional
Assembly. Also they give preference to a federal form of state.
Members of the civil society are a.o. the Comite Droits de
l'Homme Maintenant, the Conseil des Syndicats du secteur public
and the Laicat Catholique.
The Congolese trade union, UNTC, argued in her reaction on the
draft-constitution just as well for the institution of a
Constitutional Assembly.
Sunday 15 November 1998
- The rebels have asked foreign investors - specially Banro and
Ashanti Goldfield - to return.
Monday 16 November 1998
-Le Soir published an interview with Aldo Ajello, EU missionary
to the Great Lakes regions. Ajello says that there is a role for
Kabila to preserve the unity of Congo. Ruanda has to start a
process of interior reconciliation and to abandon military
solutions.
- A group of 13 Tutsi refugees arrived in Brussels. They have got
protection during some time in the embassy of Belgium in
Kinshasa. Some 27 Tutsi refugees are still expected in Brussels.
Tuesday 17 November 1998
-The Congolese minister of Foreign Affairs, Okoto, criticized at
his visit to Pretoria the position of South Africa that did not
condemn the agression of Uganda and Ruanda. Okoto asked South
Africa to contribute to a peacekeeping force in Congo.
- Le Soir published a comprehensive interview with Kabila in
connection with his visit to Brussels on November 25 . Kabila
stipulates that elections will be held next year; political
parties will be accepted within two months.
- The city of Moba, near Tanganyika Lake, is conquered by the
rebels.
The Zimbabweans have control of Bas Congo with a post at Kisantu
and nearby Mbanza-Ngungu.
Thursday 19 November 1998
- A summit conference is planned by South Africa for 8 December.
Before that, on 20 Novenber, there will be a meeting at Gabarone
(Botswana) at the instigation of the President of Zambia, Mr
Chiluba. Invited are Mozambique, Tanzania, South-Africa and the
Congolese rebel leader Wamba dia Wamba.
- In Zimbabwe strikes are organized by the trade unions. They are
protesting against the increased fuel prices, the deterioration
of the economy and the involvement in the Congolese war.
- In Congo a second rebel movement has started under the leadership of
Jean Pierre Bemba, son of the Congolese businessman Bemba
Saolona. This movement is operating in Equateur with support of
Ugandans.
In Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur, a curfue has been imposed
by the government. From Bumba (on the border of Eastprovince and
Equateur), that has been conquered by the rebels, inhabitants
have fled, Allegedly, the rebels have also occupied Lisala, west
of Bumba.
Friday 20 November 1998
- Zimbabwe has sent 1500 military police to Congo to reinforce
order among its own troops.
- In Uganda most of the public opinion is against the meddling
of Museveni in the war in Congo. A poll in Kampala showed that
64% of the interviewed consider the Museveni government as the
most corrupt ever since independance. The Ugandan newspaper The
Monitor writes that political leaders benefit from the rebellion.
Museveni plans to strengthen his air force by modern fighter
planes. According to The Monitor this purchase will be at the
expense of the Treasury.
- In Rwanda young boys are recruted at a large scale for the
war, writes the periodical East Africa. It also mentions that
Rwandan officers exploit the war for large-scale pillaging.
- In Gabarone Wamba has asked the African leaders to exercise
pressure on Kabila to negotiate with the rebels. The peace
initiative proposed by Zambia will not be accepted by the rebels.
- The Congolese commander Munene has been appointed chief staff
of the Congolese army (FAC).
Monday 23 November 1998
- A report has been published by the UN Commission for the
investigation illegal arms trade. It states that Rwandan ex-FAR,
Interahamwe and other armed groups in the Great Lakes Region
finance their arms purchases by drugs trade. Prominent members
of the ex-FAR have their home bases in Dar-es-Salam (Tanzania)
and Mombasa (Kenya). According to the Commission 5 to 10.000 ex-
FAR/Interahamwe are in North-Congo and 10.000 in South-Congo.
They get support from some governments in the region. The
Commission emphasizes that these groups have to be demobilized
and reintegrated in their original society.
- President Kabila arrived in Rome last Sunday. Next Tuesday he
will meet the Pope.
- Last Saturday the ambassadors of Germany, Switserland, Canada
and Togo in Kinshasa have presented a peace proposal to the
Congolese government.
- Amnesty International published a report about human rights in
Congo. All parties in the conflict commit atrocities against the
population.
Tuesday 24 November 1998
- In Belgium two complaints have been filed by opponents of
Kabila concerning human rights violations and incitement against
Tutsi. The complaints come from the Belgian UDPS section and
a couple of Belgian-Tutsi origin. The Belgian minister of Foreign
Affairs Erik Derijcke has declared that Kabila has diplomatic
immunity.
Tuesday evening Kabila is expected in Brussels. He will meet
prime minister Dehaene, and the ministers Derijcke and Moreels.
He will also be received by King Albert.
- In Rome Kabila has asked the Pope the support of the Catholic
Church against the agression of Uganda and Rwanda. He has also
paid a visit to the religious organisation St Egidius, known for
its dedication to conflict resolution.
Furthermore he spoke in Rome with president Scalfaro and with the
Italian minister of Foreign Affairs Rino Serri.
Wednesday 25 November 1998
- In Brussels a meeting took place between Kabila and Pinheiro,
European Commissioner for African Affairs. The EU stands up for
a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Kabila asked the Belgian autorities to reject the Ugandan and
Ruandan agression and to sustain the development of Congo. The
Belgian government's reaction was not very favorable.
- The Wall Street Journal reports that Congolese minister of
State, Mpoyo, has become one of the stockholders of Sonangol-
Congo, a oil company created by himself. This company is a
daughter of the Angolan Sonangol, and the stake of Angola is 60%.
Some Namibian businessmen are ready to exploit the diamonds of
Kasai by way of their Namibian Mining House. The president of
this company is a brother-in-law of Nujoma.
Saturday 28 November 1998
- In Paris the summit conference of 49 French and African States
takes place. The leaders of the states who are at war are
present too: Kabila, Mugabe, Nujoma, Museveni and Bizimungu.
President Chirac has succeeded to formulate a peace plan that met
approval with the African leaders. An important point is that
the leaders agree to sign a cease-fire on December 8 at a meeting
in Lusaka. The peace plan implies the
withdrawal of the Ugandan and Ruandan troops and the stationing
of an international peacekeeping force at the borders of East
Congo. The secretary general of the UN, Kofi Annan, who was
present at the summit, is ready to bring in the peace proposal
to the UN Security Council.
Sunday 29 November 1998
-The political rebel leader Wamba dia Wamba declares that the
rebels will continue the war.
Monday 30 November 1998
-The second rebel movement (Mouvement pour la Liberation
Congolais) under the leadership of Jean Pierre Bemba says that
his troops are continuing the fightings in Equateur.
- The place of Aketi in the Eastprovince has already been taken
by Ugandan troops in the beginning of November. Others towns in
that province now occupied by the Ugandans are Kisangani,
Banalia, Isiro and Dulia.
- The Congolese people, especially those of Kivu and
Eastprovince, are seriously victims of the repression by the
rebels. (see Topics)
Fryday 4 december 1998
-An agreement is signed between the Congolese government and the
companies Socorep, Mobil and Shell for the oil exploitation in
Bas Congo.
-In spite of the approval of a cease-fire fightings are
continuing in and around Kabalo, a town in North Katanga. The
Congolese army is supported by the Zimbabwean airforce.
Saturday 5 December 1998
- Catholic missionaries report that 3000 Burundians are fighting
together with the rebels in East Congo. At the attack on Moba by
Zimbabwean aircrafts a number of 800 of them have been killed.
The government of Burundi denies any engagement in the conflict.chronicle 8, september 15 -september 28 1997
chronicle 9, september 29 -october 12 1997
chronicle 10, october 13 - october 26 1997
chronicle 11, october 27 - november 9, 1997
chronicle 12, november 10 -november 23 1997
chronicle 13, november 24 -december 7 1997
chronicle 14, december 8 1997 - january 4 1998
chronicle 15, january 5 - january 18 1998
chronicle 16, january 19 - february 1 1998
chronicle 17, february 2 - february 15 1998
chronicle 18, february 16 - march 1 1998
chronicle 19, march 2 - march 15 1998
chronicle 20, march 16 - march 29 1998
chronicle 21, march 30 - april 26 1998
chronicle 22, april 27 - mei 10 1998
chronicle 23, mei 11 - mei 31 1998
chronicle 24, juni 1 - august 26 1998
chronicle 25, august 27 - september 28 1998
chronicle 26,september 29- october 31 1998