Minister says no “African solution to the Congolese problem”

At an Organisation of African Unity (OAU) ministerial meeting held on Monday, DRC Foreign Minister Leonard She Okitundu said he had “never believed in any African solution to the Congolese problem”. “I rather believe in the involvement of the UN Security Council whose primary role is to maintain international peace and security,” he told Radio France Internationale. Okitundu expressed doubts about the OAU’s ability to address the conflict in the DRC, stating that “the DRC, which is the heart of Africa, is occupied by three neighbouring countries”.

“The international community outlaws aggression and yet not only have the OAU’s fundamental principles been violated by this aggression, but the DRC has also been occupied for three years now,” he said. “The OAU is incapable of taking this matter up seriously and, consequently, finding a solution.” Okitundu said such inaction by the OAU was damaging its credibility. “It is militating against the organisation’s credibility and this is why it is important for this DRC issue to be seen now as a real issue that should awaken people’s conscience because, in several addresses made, we noted that people did not want the [newly-formed successor to the OAU] African Union to inherit the OAU’s problems.”