“We are not united” - RCD-ML official

While calling last week’s preparatory talks held in Gaborone, Botswana in advance of the inter-Congolese dialogue to begin on 15 October in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia “a good thing because the Congolese demonstrated they can easily agree with one another when their country is in danger,” Deputy National Secretary for Defence, Major James Matabishi, of the Ugandan-backed Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie-Mouvement de Liberation (RCD-ML) rebel movement admitted the RCD-ML remained divided. Speaking on Congolese rebel-controlled Radio Candip in Bunia on Wednesday, Matabishi said “we looked very stupid in Gaborone.

We were stupid: we were the only movement which turned up with several chairmen. The final documents [in Gaborone] were signed on behalf of the RCD-ML by three people: Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, Jean-Baptiste Tibasima Mbogemu Atenyi and Honore Kadima [all top RCD-ML officials]. This shows that we are not united. As we remain divided, we may even fail to attend the inter-Congolese dialogue.”