Inter-Congolese dialogue to resume - Kabila

Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Saturday announced the resumption of the inter-Congolese dialogue which he said would take place later this month.

Speaking at the seat of parliament in Lubumbashi, southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), he said every Congolese national should become involved in the talks "which must restart during the second fortnight in September". He declined to name the venue.

"In the best interests of national reconciliation, reunification of national territory and democratisation of political activities, we are called upon to establish transitional institutions, including an inclusive parliament comprising yourselves [current MPs] and the representatives of the parties at the inter-Congolese dialogue," he said.

At the end of last month, DRC Information Minister Kikaya Bin Karubi told IRIN that the Sun City accord - reached between the government and former rebel group, the Mouvement de liberation du Congo (MLC), after the first round of inter-Congolese talks - would be superseded by a comprehensive power-sharing transitional government agreement.

Kinshasa now wishes to reopen negotiations aimed at reaching an all-inclusive agreement with the Rwandan-backed rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma), the Union pour la democratie et le progres social (UDPS) opposition party, and other non-signatories to the Sun City accord.

"The Sun City accord will no longer be applied as stipulated," Kikaya Bin Karubi told IRIN. "[MLC leader] Jean-Pierre Bemba will therefore not be prime minister unless he is chosen by the new negotiations."

The MLC has since threatened a return to armed opposition in reaction to Kinshasa's statement.