IRIN Interview with Ketumile Masire, inter-Congolese dialogue facilitator

Former president of Botswana, Sir Ketumile Masire, was appointed facilitator of the inter-Congolese dialogue process in December 1999.

After more than a year of shuttle diplomacy and numerous set-backs, he has managed to bring all the main Congolese players to the table in Gaborone this week to begin the long-awaited process of negotiating an end to the three-year war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). IRIN spoke to Sir Ketumile at the preparatory meeting.

QUESTION: Has the issue of the withdrawal of foreign forces from the DRC been resolved at this preparatory meeting of the inter-Congolese dialogue?

ANSWER: No, not really, I think there are mutual suspicions. Each party feels that if they pull out first, how will they justify the fact that they went in when other armies remain in the DRC. So we’re hoping that the leaders of countries that have soldiers in the DRC will meet and synchronise a withdrawal so it looks fair to everybody.

Q: Because this meeting is essentially talks about talks and numbers have been restricted how have you been dealing with pressure from the various groups who have turned up here uninvited but demanding a voice?

A: It has been difficult, yet not that difficult. If you lay the rules of the game on the table as we have in advance, then everybody knows where they are. If you come here knowing full well you are not invited, then you are not going to be surprised. The invitations had to issue from the five parties involved (government, civil society, political parties, and the two main rebel groups), they told us who those delegates would be and so we issued them with invitations.

Q: Mauritius and Addis Ababa have been suggested as possible venues for the dialogue what are your thoughts on this?

A: I’m leaving this issue up to the meeting, I don’t want to force anything down their throats.

Q: Do you have the budget to see the inter-Congolese dialogue process through to its conclusion?

A: I must say we have had good support, but not support for our whole budget. But I think that one of the things that made those who contributed stall, was that the process itself stalled. Originally we were working to fund our work for 10 months, we’ve been at it now for 18 months. We have managed to plod along, but only because the dialogue process has not taken place. We hope that when we get into full swing, as we are now, the monies will be forthcoming.

Q: Some civil society groups and political parties have complained that their voices are not being heard at these talks. Is that an issue for you as facilitator?

A: No, its difficult with these groups though. There are fifteen parties, they all want to talk, there are more than 70 delegates, they all want to talk on each and every topic, if that is allowed to happen then we’ll be here till the cows come home.

Q: The few women here at the talks have expressed concern at the lack of female representation - only five of more than 70 are women. Will that gender imbalance be rectified before the dialogue kicks off?

A: I’m not at all satisfied with the low number of women represented here. I have had to make an appeal to all parties to make a special effort to include more women in their delegations.

Q: When will the real negotiations begin?

A: Seeing how long this preparatory meeting took to organise, I suspect that we will need more time than allocated under the Lusaka Accord.

Q: Will your office restrict the number of delegates in the same way that you have done here in Gaborone?

A: We are going to be as restrictive as we can. But then there is the principal of inclusion. We have to include as many interests as we possibly can. Remember, we’re dealing with sixty million people here, the interests are many and diverse, so inevitably we will be many at those discussions.

Q: Foreign countries involved in the DRC have been deliberately excluded from these talks. They will be permitted to send representatives to the talks proper, what role will they have at those talks?

A: Just to provide an audience and tender advice to their clients, that’s all.