ugnet_: DRC PARTIES IN PEACE DEAL

[Mulindwa Edward]

Itayi Musengeyi   SUN CITY, South Africa. WARRING parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday signed an all-inclusive agreement to end four years of war at a ceremony witnessed here by several African leaders, including President Mugabe Zimbabwe, along with Angola and Namibia, helped restore peace in the DRC by sending troops which helped the vast Central African country repel a Rwandan and Ugandan-backed invasion. The political settlement will see the reorganisation of the army to include rebels, an interim constitution and a 14-member committee to oversee the peace process. Under the agreement � born out of the year-long Inter-Congolese Dialogue � President Joseph Kabila will be installed as president of a transitional government with four deputy presidents drawn from the government, the two major rebel groups � the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) and the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC) � and unarmed opposition parties. The interim constitution allows for a broad-based government of national unity to rule the mineral-rich Congo for two-and-a-half years until democratic elections, the first in more than 40 years, are held. A transitional parliament will also be established under the settlement. The president of the senate will be drawn from civil society while the speaker of the national assembly will come from the MLC. Ministries will be divided up and former rebel fighters will be integrated into the army and police force. Speakers at the ceremony hailed the agreement and urged DRC parties to respect the pact. "This is truly a red-letter day in the history of our continent. It is a day of hope and celebration, not only for the people of the DRC but also for the peoples of Africa as a whole," said South African President Thabo Mbeki. But he warned the parties: "You know better than I do that the implementation of historic agreements you have entered into will not be easy. "Your problems will originate both from within the Congo and from elsewhere, outside your borders. To overcome them will require a single-minded commitment to serve." The facilitator of the dialogue former Botswana president Sir Ketumile said: "The signing of these agreements is not only a victory for the Congo and its people but also a unique and invaluable step towards sustainable peace, stability and co-operation in the Great Lakes region. However fighting in East DRC threatens the agreement." Besides Cde Mugabe, the signing of the pact in the luxury casino resort of Sun City in northwestern South Africa was also witnessed by Botswana President Mr Festus Mogae, Namibian President Mr Sam Nujoma and the President of Zambia Mr Levy Mwanawasa. The 31-year-old President Kabila, who assumed power after the assassination of his father Laurent in January 2001, did not attend the ceremony. Kikaya bin Karubi, his information minister, told reporters: "He has the mammoth task of running the country and preparing for our return to Kinshasa. This a plenary of delegates to the Inter-Congolese Dialogue and the president was never a delegate to the ICD. "We see this as a great and happy occasion for the DRC. No more war. No more rebellion. We can go back from here to participate in the political process." First to sign the document was Leonard She Okitundu, President Kabila�s foreign minister, who said: "This is a great day for the DRC. We can say �mission accomplished�." He was followed by rebel RCD leader Adolphe Onusumba and Olivier Kamitatu, who signed on behalf of MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, who did not attend, aides said because he was suffering from lumbago. The final text urges the international community to keep its interest in the former Zaire, and support it. The 362 delegates, representing the government, rebels, militias and opposition politicians and civil society, adopted a new constitution by acclamation on Tuesday, along with the global and inclusive agreement on the transition and a memorandum on military and security matters. According to AFP, Kabila is due to promulgate the constitution on April 6, thus ushering in the transition. But a military agreement reached in Pretoria by the chiefs of staff of the belligerents last Saturday, remained on the table with only the RCD having signed. UN special envoy Moustapha Niasse, who facilitated the talks, said it would have to be resolved without the help of the mediation team. "The Congolese people have to start doing something for themselves." Some 2,5 million people according to UN figures, died either directly in combat or indirectly through disease and malnutrition in the conflict which broke out in August 1998. At its peak, the war drew in troops from Angola, Namibia, Chad and Zimbabwe on the government side as Rwanda and Uganda supported different rebel groups, making it one of Africa's most complex wars. Problems remain in the east, with recent reports of tribal clashes and fighting between militias, and accusations -- denied by Kigali -- that thousands of Rwandan troops have crossed back into the DRC.              The Mulindwas Communication Group "With Yoweri Museveni Uganda is in Anarchy"              Le groupe de transmission de Mulindwas " avec Yoweri Museveni, Ouganda est dans anarchy "