MONUC should deploy on both sides - Ondekane

Vice-President of the rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) Jean-Pierre Ondekane on Monday said his movement would not allow the deployment of UN military personnel in areas under its control, if DRC President Laurent-Desire Kabila refused to allow their deployment in government territory. “If Kabila refuses to allow UN troops in his area like he has threatened to do, we shall not allow them to deploy in our territory, because this means that we shall be open to scrutiny while Kabila will continue with his war plans unhindered, “ Ondekane told IRIN. UN military personnel are to be deployed in Kisangani and Kindu which are under rebel control, and Mbandaka and Mbuji Mayi controlled by Congolese government forces.

On reported ceasefire violations, Ondekane told IRIN the RCD forces were fighting government troops and their allies on three fronts. He claimed fighting was spread around Uvira, Fizi-Baraka, Ruzizi plain, Mulebwa and Lulimba in South Kivu. In Katanga, fighting was concentrated around the town of Kongolo and in Kasai around Kabinda, he said. “What is surprising us is that the militia fighting alongside Kabila’s troops have new arms,” he added.