Kabila in Nigeria, meets Obasanjo

DRC President Joseph Kabila, who visited Nigeria on Thursday, held talks with President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abuja as part of efforts to rally international support for the Lusaka peace initiative, Nigerian television reported. It said the two leaders agreed that durable peace and stability in the Congo would ensure a stabilisation of situation in Central Africa and the Great Lakes region. “Now is the stage of disengagement of forces and after the disengagement of forces, there will have to be withdrawing of forces,” Obasanjo said. “When you get to the withdrawal of forces, you will then, of course, ensure that there is no vacuum created. I believe that is the stage when you will have to put in place some other forces to replace those forces that may have to be withdrawn. Of course, we in Nigeria, we will want to help. That is our responsibility.” The Associated Press (AP) reported that Obasanjo offered military training and economic development aid to the DRC. In a joint statement, the two leaders also agreed to revive a lapsed bilateral commission.