Allied command say withdrawal complete

Pro-government forces in the Congo have complied with a disengagement agreement and withdrawn the required distance from frontline positions, a statement from Zimbabwe’s defence headquarters said on Monday. “In conformity with the disengagement and redeployment of belligerent troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Southern African Development Community allied forces have finished the first phase of the sub plans for the disengagement and redeployment,” said the statement signed by Zimbabwe’s defence spokesman Colonel Mbonosi Gatsheni.

Contrary to media reports, “the SADC alliance worked within the required time frame to withdraw their troops and redeploy them at sites agreed to in [the] Kampala disengagement plan,” the statement added. “The SADC task force headquarters would like to state that all their men have adjusted their positions and are now awaiting the Joint Military Commission (JMC) and the [UN] observers (MONUC) to carry out the verification of the disengagement plan according to the UN Security Council Resolution 1341.” By contrast, the allied headquarters accused the rebel Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC) of failing to withdraw the agreed 15 km, and of launching three separate attacks on allied supply ferries on the Ikelemba river forces “prior and during the disengagement phase”.

The military pull back, as part of a ceasefire plan, was due to begin on 15 March and finish on 28 March. Several Ugandan and Rwandan army battalions backing DRC rebels have complied, but reports on Friday said there was doubt over the positions of government forces and their allies - Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia.