Sides gather in New York

The main actors in the Democratic Republic of Congo conflict are in New York to bolster the efforts of the United Nations Security Council aimed at renewing implementation of the Lusaka peace agreement, news organisations reported. Consultations kicked off with the American Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, holding separate talks with President Pasteur Bizimungu of Rwanda and Laurent-Desire Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, ahead of Monday’s meeting.

Presidents of the six countries involved in the conflict are attending the meeting, namely Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Sam Mujoma of Namibia, Laurent Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pasteur Bizimungu of Rwanda and Jose Eduardo Do Santos of Angola.

The main issues involved in the peace process include the disarmament of different armed groups operating in the DRC, the holding of a national debate, the deployment of a peacekeeping force and withdrawal of foreign troops. There have been numerous reported violations of the Lusaka agreement since it was signed last year, and each side blames the other for the violations.

Ugandan Minister in charge of the Presidency Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda told IRIN his country hopes the Security Council meeting will “support the operationalisation of the Lusaka agreement”. He confirmed that all the parties to the Lusaka agreement support the selection of the former Botswana President, Ketumile Masire, as a facilitator to bring together all Congolese warring parties to a national dialogue.