Bemba's rebels ready to fight for northeast Congo
By Paul Busharizi
GBADOLITE, Congo, Feb 23 (Reuters) - They are talking peace, but their war is far from over.
The rebel Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC) was party to a peace accord signed by the Kinshasa government and several rebel factions in December to try and end the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
But on the ground, fighting has continued. Analysts say Kinshasa knows the MLC is still a force to be reckoned with, and is trying to assert its authority in the areas of northeastern Congo which MLC leader Jean Pierre Bemba controls.
"Kinshasa is looking to cut Bemba off as he is the only real local threat to (President Joseph) Kabila," one western diplomat in Kampala said.
"The MLC is well trained, has the numbers and has held up under pressure even after Uganda's withdrawal last year from its territory...Kabila sees this and knows he has to deal with Bemba now."
Bemba -- who under the December accord stands to become one four vice presidents in Congo -- is believed to have about 20,000 soldiers and says he controls a territory of some 700,000 square km, roughly three times the size of Britain.
To the east and south, his troops are fighting the rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy-Kisangani (RCD-K-ML), which controls swathes of jungle in the northeastern region of Ituri.
Bemba says Kinshasa has been sending arms to help the RCD-K-ML extend its power in Ituri and weaken the MLC.
"Kinshasa has been landing troops in Beni and has given backing to the RCD-K-ML in their takeover of Bafwasende," Bemba said in the MLC headquarters of Gbadolite this week. "We are fighting because we do not want the enemy at our back."
READY TO FIGHT ON
Congo's war has killed around two million people, most through disease or hunger, and has dragged in numerous rebel groups and foreign armies. Attempts to negotiate a solution have led to promises, but the tensions in Ituri show there is still a very long way to go.
Bemba says he will fight to take control of Beni, and has also warned that he is prepared to battle for the strategic town of Bunia -- currently controlled by another rebel group and the Ugandan army -- if Kinshasa tries to intervene there.
His own troops have openly violated a ceasefire signed by the MLC in Ituri, and stand accused of massive human rights abuses against civilians, including rape, indiscriminate killings and cannibalism, charges Bemba denies.
The rebel leader says Kinshasa is playing political games by delaying implementation of the December accord, an allegation Kinshasa has also denied.
"It's all a question of survival," Makerere University political scientist Philip Kasaija told Reuters.
"All this procrastination and machinations by Kinshasa is because Kabila is not on the ground politically or militarily, Bemba on the other hand has a standing army and is a very credible opponent."
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Analysts say defending himself against Kinshasa has also motivated Bemba's involvement in the central African Republic (CAR), Congo's northern neighbour, where the MLC has been supporting President Felix Patasse against Chad-backed rebels.
In 1999, when he was trying to enter Congo's Equator province, Bemba fought against Chadian troops allied to Kinshasa, and believs that alliance could now play against him.
If the rebels in the CAR take Bangui -- just 200 km (125 miles) from Bemba's Gbadolite stronghold -- Bemba says Kinshasa will be able to stage attacks on the MLC from there.
"We went in first because we were invited by Patasse to save his government but also because we have security interests to protect," Bemba said
"In 1999 we fought the Chadians here and expelled them...if those rebels win be sure Kinshasa will use Bangui against us."
Bemba was due to pull out his forces from the CAR last week, but his forces were attacked as they retreated. In the ensuing battle, the MLC retook three towns it had intended to leave and says it will continue to protect its interests.
"I want to warn those rebels if they try to destabilize Patasse they will find us there," Bemba said.
02/23/03 05:52 ET
