Former rebel official apologises for war

Alexis Thambwe-Mwamba, a founding member of the rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD) in Goma, has apologised to the Congolese people for the war and said he was now willing to meet President Kabila to bring peace to the country. In a statement, issued last Thursday, Thambwe said he had disassociated himself from RCD leader Emile Ilunga because Ilunga wanted to pursue a military victory to ensure his
own political position. He also criticised the RCD's decision to "banish" Bishop Emmanuel Kataliko from his Bukavu diocese. Thambwe, who was in charge of RCD foreign relations until his dismissal on 3 April, said the DRC conflict could not be won militarily, and that refusing to engage in political negotiations would result in the partition of the country for
years to come.

RCD-Goma said it was now at a "turning point", and the departure of some of its members would not mean the end of the movement. "Men are replaceable. Only ideals last forever. And that of the RCD is none other than to achieve peace in the country and in the Great Lakes region," an RCD statement said. Discipline and respect for RCD regulations now had to prevail over all else, it added.