SADC allies meet

In a communiqué issued at the end of a summit in Kinshasa at the weekend, pro-government allied countries involved in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) called on the UN Security Council to put an end to ceasefire violations, Congolese TV monitored by the BBC said. The communiqué was read by Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs Minister Stan Mudenge.

“The heads of state reaffirmed their continuous support for and solidarity with the people of the DRC in their fight against the aggression and for the restoration of peace and stability in the country,” Mudenge said. The heads of state of Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe “hailed the decision” by the DRC government to lift a ban on political parties and “considered this as an important stage for the creation of an enabling environment for democracy, the inter-Congolese debate and national reconciliation.”

“The heads of state were briefed on the progress made so far in the demilitarisation process and the redeployment of forces. They expressed their deep concern for the refusal of the MLC (Movement for the Liberation of Congo) to comply with its commitments as provided for in the Kampala Plan, the Harare subsidiary plans and Security Council Resolution 1341 of 22 February 2001. They therefore called for the immediate and unconditional compliance with these accords by the MLC,” Mudenge added. “Taking into account the fact that the MLC has violated Section 3 of Security Council Resolution 1341, they demanded that the Security Council imposes appropriate measures, in accordance with Paragraph 28 of the Resolution.”