Masire optimistic about new ceasefire

The facilitator of the proposed dialogue to establish a new political dispensation in the DRC, former Botswana president Ketumile Masire, has welcomed the Kampala ceasefire and disengagement agreement, and said he was optimistic that, with adequate funding and support, the inter-Congolese dialogue could be brought on track. The Joint Military Commission (JMC) implementing the Lusaka peace accord said on Monday the
new ceasefire was generally holding except for a few skirmishes. Masire was now "looking forward to consulting the government, rebels and members of civil society in the DRC, to get the process underway as soon as possible," a press release stated on Monday. The facilitator said he hoped to visit Lumbubashi, Bukavu, Goma and Bunia in eastern DRC - to which he
was denied access by the Kinshasa authorities last month - during a visit to the country in May. Meanwhile, he is scheduled to travel to the US next week to brief the Security Council, garner support for his work plan and seek budgetary support from donors.