Masire claims Kinshasa blocking his role

The facilitator of the inter-Congolese dialogue proposed in the Lusaka agreement, former Botswana President Ketumile Masire, said on Thursday that the Kinshasa government’s refusal to clear his travel to rebel-held areas was a “clear attempt to frustrate his efforts to bring peace”. According to a statement by Masire, the government had also tried, unsuccessfully, to block him from even entering the country at Kinshasa. Congolese Foreign Minister Yerodia Ndombasi defended the government’s actions, saying that Masire had informed it of his travel plans belatedly. Although Masire’s mandate as OAU-appointed facilitator of the proposed dialogue grants him freedom of movement throughout government- and rebel-controlled areas, Ndombasi said it was inadmissible that Masire should determine his itinerary in the DRC without consulting the government.