No access granted to MONUC yet

Sources at the UN mission in the DRC (MONUC) told IRIN that the mission had not gained access to Congolese army camps in Kamina and Katonda to carry out a voluntary census among soldiers to identify those who belonged to Rwandan and other foreign rebel groups, known as “negative forces”. “So far access for this purpose has not been granted despite repeatedly been told by Kinshasa that the mission would be allowed to visit these camps,” the source noted. By midday on Wednesday, the government had not made an announcement nor had MONUC been informed of any government plans on the issue of the negative forces, despite the fact that on Tuesday the country’s foreign minister, Leonard She Okitundu confirmed that the announcement would be made the same day.