Bemba confirms dialogue with unarmed groups

Leader of the Congolese Liberation Front (CLF), Jean-Pierre Bemba, on Monday confirmed that he would be holding a meeting in the northeastern town of Beni with unarmed opposition groups. “We got in touch with the parties that were selected to participate in the preparatory committee of the inter-Congolese dialogue,” Gabonese radio quoted Bemba as saying on Monday. He said the meeting would be held in Beni on 14 April.

According to Bemba, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the Social Christian Democratic Party (PDSC), the Innovational Forces of the Sacred Union (FONUS), Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR), the Unified Lumumbist Party (PALU) and his own Mouvement de liberation du Congo (MLC) will attend the meeting. Bemba said the meeting was for the parties to “establish contact”. He said there should be no security problem for the leaders travelling from different parts of the country. “Security at home is ensured for all citizens, they are in their own country. The issue may arise in Kinshasa, but not where we are,” he said.