SADC ministers criticise rebel movements

Ministers from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, allied to the DRC, have issued a communique condemning rebel movements in northern Congo. In the communique “the ministers noted progress made so far on military disengagement in the DRC but expressed deep concern over continued failure by the Mouvement pour la liberation du Congo (MLC) to abide by its engagements”. “In particular they rejected as illegal and unacceptable an attempt by the MLC to leave behind so-called police units in areas which should revert to government control”, under the UN disengagement plan, the statement added. The ministers also noted that the city of Kisangani “is still not demilitarised as envisaged in UN resolutions”, and they condemned the “transfer of the headquarters of the RCD (Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie) from Goma to Kisangani” as a “serious violation of UN resolutions 1304 and 1355”.