US, France urge Rwanda to pressurise rebels

The US State Department expressed deep concern over the measures taken by the RCD, saying they were in violation of the Lusaka agreement and UN Security Council resolutions. It called on Rwanda to put pressure on its RCD allies to allow the deployment to go ahead, an appeal echoed by France.

Explaining the reasons for blocking the UN deployment, RCD secretary-general Azarias Ruberwa on Tuesday reiterated the movement’s belief that it had been “exemplary” in adhering to the timetable for the withdrawal of troops from the frontlines. “Unfortunately, the Kinshasa government distinguished itself by unleashing violence on the civilian population in Katanga and Kasai provinces,” he said, according to Goma radio. “We have decided to stand by this decision until MONUC makes clear its good intentions by publishing the findings of an enquiry which it carried out itself. We are not asking for more,” he said.

In an interview with DRC state television, the UN Secretary-General’s special representative to the DRC, Kamel Morjane, stated that the enquiry had nothing to do with the timetable for the deployment of UN peacekeepers. “The investigation is going smoothly...and will take as much time as necessary, and will follow the pattern of all the investigations carried out by MONUC in cases of ceasefire violations,” he said.