MLC gives government 72 hours to quit Equateur towns

The Ugandan-backed Mouvement de liberation du Congo (MLC), led by Jean-Pierre Bemba, has given DRC government forces 72 hours to quit the towns of Imese and Dongo in Equateur province, captured from the rebels two weeks ago. “They have 72 hours to get out of Imese and Dongo or face another humiliating defeat, because the two towns are our frontline positions according to the Kampala disengagement plan,” MLC Secretary-General Olivier Kamitatu told IRIN on Friday. The MLC on Wednesday clamed to have killed more than 800 government troops and destroyed two warships. Kamitatu claimed this “humiliating defeat” was the reason DRC President Laurent-Desire Kabila had announced a halt to fighting in Equateur. The claims of defeating DRC troops could not be independently confirmed, but humanitarian sources said there had been heavy fighting close to the Congo-Brazzaville border. On Thursday, Kabila ordered an end to military operations in Equateur province. “Having persuaded Jean-Pierre Bemba’s aggressors and rebels to move back to their positions in Equator province, the president and supreme commander of FAC [Forces armees congolaises] has decided to stop the legitimate defence operation from today and to observe the ceasefire stipulated in the Lusaka and Kampala accords,” a government statement said. The signatories to the Lusaka ceasefire accord are due to meet in the Zambian capital on Monday.