Kabila may not attend New York meeting

President Laurent-Desire Kabila has cast further doubt on his attendance at a UN-organised meeting of key players in the DRC war, due to take place in New York next week. “I never said I would go there,” he told the Johannesburg ‘Star’ in an interview published on Wednesday, reported by news organisations. “I am still waiting for an official invitation.” “What are we going to do in New York?” he asked. “There is no reconciliation in New York. In New York there are countries that are involved in the war.” He warned that if the peace process failed, “the people of Congo will be forced to defend themselves”. Kabila also accused South Africa of arming Uganda- and Rwanda-backed rebels who are trying to topple his government. “South Africa is the compulsory channel of all weapons for Rwanda and Uganda,” he said. “South Africa has distinguished itself by its campaign of destabilisation.” The South African government has denied any bias in the DRC war.