Zambian peace plan

A fresh peace plan for the Great Lakes region, proposed by Zambian President Frederick Chiluba, has received support from the European Union (EU). In a declaration issued in Brussels on 17 February, the EU said it “expresses once again its strong support for the regional peace initiatives undertaken among others in the framework of SADC and the OAU as well as by President Chiluba.” It added that it “would be prepared to consider a rehabilitation programme for DRC in case of an effective cessation of hostilities, and internal progress on peace, democracy and respect for human rights”. The plan proposed by Chiluba provides for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of foreign troops from the DRC and the deployment there of a UN-backed peacekeeping force, Reuters reported yesterday. Other aspects of the proposal include the provision of security guarantees for Rwanda and Uganda. Chiluba was expected to discuss the plan this week with Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame. Meanwhile, PANA quoted Mozambican President Joachim Chissano as saying yesterday in Lusaka that he was prepared to help Chiluba in his bid to bring peace to the DRC. He also denied reports that he was being identified to replace Chiluba as SADC’s chief mediator in the DRC crisis.