The Rwanda-backed Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) has announced that its forces will stay in Kisangani after the departure of Rwandan and Ugandan troops and the demilitarisation of the town. A statement released by Hugo Ilondo, the RCD chief-of-staff, said Kisangani was “liberated in September 1998” by RCD soldiers, supported by Rwanda. “The Ugandan army only came later by planes at the invitation of RCD and RPA [Rwanda Patriotic Army]...It is therefore absurd that our movement, composed of Congolese, should leave Kisangani. To go where?” However, Rwandan army spokesman Emmanuel Ndahiro told IRIN that RCD-Goma “should withdraw like everybody else”. “They would not gain anything by staying in the town, it is not necessary to cause complications in the demilitarisation exercise,” he stressed. The demilitarisation of Kisangani was agreed upon before fighting broke out last week.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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