Angola, DRC conflicts to dominate SADC summit

The conflicts in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are likely to dominate the summit of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC)in the Mozambique capital Maputo on Wednesday, conference officials said. Talking to the media, Kaire Mbuende, SADC's Executive Secretary, said the heads of state would look at ways to help Angola end nearly 25 years of civil war with the rebel UNITA movement of Jonas Savimbi. "A resolution will be tabled to focus on what could be done for the Angolan government, which includes possible military support," Mbuende was quoted as saying. However, Angolan reports quoted the spokesman to President Jose Eduardo dos Santos as playing down speculation that his country would ask the summit participants to lend military support in its fight against UNITA. "We are not aiming for any military involvement of the countries of the region in the Angolan conflict," the spokesman said. At the same time, the government daily "Journal de Angola", in a front-page editorial said it hoped SADC "would take more concrete steps aimed at eliminating Savimbi's war machine". At its summit in Mauritius last year, Savimbi was branded a war criminal. "The terrorist group leader represents a danger for all the countries in the region," the daily said. The summit is also expected to be briefed on developments about efforts to end the yearlong DRC war in which rebels are fighting to unseat Laurent-Desire Kabila's two-year-old government. Zambian president Frederick Chiluba, appointed by SADC to lead peace efforts in the DRC, was reported as saying urgent consultations are being undertaken to get the rebels to sign the 10 July ceasefire agreement brokered in the Zambian capital Lusaka. "We are looking at steps to bring back the Lusaka accord back on track," Chiluba was quoted as saying. But Mbuende, citing the recent resurgence in rebel activity in Kisangani, said the fighting had reduced the chance of an all encompassing ceasefire. "No solution appears in sight at the moment. There is no chance we can get the rebels to sign," Mbuende said.