RCD-Goma waiting to continue dialogue

The Rwandan-backed rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) delegation attending the inter-Congolese dialogue (ICD) was waiting in Sun City, South Africa, on Tuesday for the return of the government and rebel Mouvement pour la liberation du Congo (MLC) delegations in order to continue discussions, the RCD spokesman, Kin Kiey Mulumba, told IRIN on Tuesday.

"We are waiting today for the MLC and Kinshasa to assist in the follow-up to the ICD to decide on the new power-sharing structures," he said. "They must come back to the negotiating table to consider [South African President Thabo] Mbeki's second proposal."

Both delegations had, however, since returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), following the signing of the agreement on 19 April.

Describing the agreement signed last week - by Joseph Kabila's government, MLC, RCD-Mouvement pour la liberation (RCD-ML), RCD-Nationale (RCD-N), six Mayi-Mayi representatives, 19 opposition party representatives and 45 representatives of civil society - as "absolutely illegal", Mulumba said it was a private agreement between Kabila and the MLC leader, Jean-Pierre Bemba, signed outside of the ICD framework, and that under no circumstances could RCD accept it.

He reiterated that the primary objectives of the ICD - those of finishing the war, reunifying the country and obtaining peace and security for the DRC's neighbours - would not be achieved by the agreement, and that it was not the solution to the DRC's problems. He said the proposal introduced on 11 April by Mbeki was the only framework RCD could consider.

Asked what would happen if the MLC and Kinshasa forged ahead with plans to form a government without RCD, Mulumba said "it was not possible to do anything in our country without us". "I can't tell you what kind of action we will take, but we will take our responsibility."
He added, however, that he did not foresee a violent response, that the parties to the conflict had to be politically responsible and had to do everything for peace in the DRC.

Under the agreement, during a transition period leading up to elections, Kabila would remain president, Bemba would become prime minister, the position of president of the National Assembly would go to RCD, president of the Senate to the opposition parties, and civil society would be allotted responsibility for elections, media, a truth and reconciliation commission, human rights, and an ethics and anti-corruption committee.

The facilitation team of the ICD, led by Ketumile Masire, has rejected the agreement, as have the opposition leader, Etienne Tshisekedi, and other smaller parties.

The transitional arrangement favoured by RCD, and put forward by Mbeki, would allow Kabila to continue to serve as president until national elections were held, while a Council of State and a Cabinet of National Reconciliation would be appended to the presidency as executive authorities. Members of the Council of State would include the president, the leaders of RCD and MLC, and a prime minister, who would be chosen by consensus at the ICD from members of the non-armed opposition. As such, Kabila's powers would thereby be greatly reduced.

Meanwhile, Rwanda had warned that war could break out if the RCD continues to be sidelined, news agencies reported. "Kabila could have speculated that, with Bemba at his side, he could have more power... and might try to push the RCD out. If that is the case, it will lead to another war," the BBC quoted Patrick Mazimpaka, Rwanda's presidential adviser, as saying.

In a separate development, a rebel commander, reportedly from the RCD, said on Monday that the group was divided over whether to accept join the government and MLC, Reuters reported. Songolo Nura, who said he was a commander in the Katanga Province, said senior figures in the RCD were ready to accept the deal, adding that he would lead a delegation of 30 senior RCD officials to meet Kabila in Kinshasa in the next few days.

Nura said there was a growing rift between RCD figures loyal to the movement's Rwandan backers and those who wanted to join Kabila. "We have been puppets of Rwanda, we are fed up... that is why we are moving away," Reuters quoted him saying.

Mulumba, however, denied that there was any such division within the RCD ranks.