President suspends officials named in UN pillage report

President Joseph Kabila on Monday suspended six officials of government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whose names have appeared in a UN report on the pillage of the nation's natural resources.

In a decree published in the state media, Kabila said he had suspended the minister of security and public order, Mwenze Kongolo; the minister of state for the presidency, Katumba Mwanke; the minister of planning and national reconstruction, Denis Kalume; the ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mawampanga Mwanananga; the administrator-general, Kazadi Nyembwe; and the former chief executive officer for the state-run diamond company, MIBA, Jean-Charles Okoto.

Kabila's director of cabinet, Evariste Boshab, said the president was satisfied with the UN report revealing that "the war in Congo was driven by the greed of those who had attacked" the country.

"The reason for Rwanda's presence in our country is not due to security considerations; it is above all economic," Boshab said.

Kabila did not say how long the suspensions would last.

Speaking on state television, Boshab urged the public to provide the state prosecutor with any information that might implicate anyone involved in the pillage. The prosecutor announced at the beginning of last week that he would open an inquiry into the allegations.