Lusaka peace talks in the balance

Diplomatic efforts to broker a peace deal in the DRC were continuing in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, on Friday under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with contrasting reports emerging as to the likelihood of a proposed ceasefire being agreed. A spokesman for the Zambian ministry of foreign affairs told IRIN on Friday technical talks were “progressing very well”, officials were working to “polish up” a ceasefire agreement and indications were that it would be signed at a heads of state summit on Saturday. However, DRC President Laurent-Desire Kabila said on Thursday the summit was by no means certain. “I’m not sure if the summit will be held now. There are too many documents in circulation and they are contradictory”, Kabila told state radio in Kinshasa on his return from talks with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in Harare. Kabila also denied reports that he had met Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, leader of the Kisangani faction of the rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD), while in Zimbabwe. “It seems he was in Harare, but I didn’t meet him”, Kabila said. Zambia’s foreign minister, Keli Walubita, flew to Kinshasa on Friday, apparently in a bid to save the summit. He was expected to hold discussions with Kabila, whose attendance in Lusaka on Saturday was in doubt, AP news agency reported.