Peace talks’ facilitator not received by Kabila

Former Botswana President Ketumile Masire discussed the organisation of the inter-Congolese negotiations with Foreign Minister Yerodia Ndombasi in Kinshasa on Tuesday, but his planned meeting with President Laurent-Desire Kabila did not take place, diplomatic sources said. Masire, who is the facilitator of the negotiations on the political future of the DRC, had travelled to Kinshasa on Sunday - at Kabila’s request - to brief him on the outcome of his meetings last week with Congolese rebel groups in Goma, Bunia and Gbadolite, the sources told IRIN on Thursday.

Masire “couldn’t wait any longer” and he left Kinshasa on Wednesday for Addis Ababa, one source said. Masire “expressed disappointment” to Ndombasi that Kabila had been unable to receive him, the source added. The facilitator is planning to hold a meeting from 5-7 June with representatives of the government, rebel groups, the unarmed opposition and civil society to discuss preparations for the political negotiations called for in the Lusaka agreement. Masire has said the actual negotiations should begin on 3 July.