Rebels warn they may resume war

The rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) has issued an “ultimatum” to the Kinshasa government, warning that it will resume the war unless President Joseph Kabila “stops transferring the war to the east”. According to an RCD statement, received by IRIN on Wednesday, the movement’s secretary-general Ruberwa Azarias issued the warning at a press conference in Goma on Tuesday. “Kinshasa...is transferring the war to the eastern provinces from the frontlines,” he said. “There are daily infiltrations and the intensity is increasing since Joseph Kabila came to power...the Kinshasa regime is bringing hell to the eastern provinces.”

“If Kinshasa does not end its support [for those fighting in the east]...we will resume the war and return it to Kinshasa,” Ruberwa warned. “Kinshasa must end this adventure which poses a real threat to the Lusaka process.” He said the RCD would not go along with a “false ceasefire on the frontline while the negative forces conduct a war pretty much in all parts of the Kivu, Rutshuru, Masisi, Fizi, Shabunda, Mwenga, Walikale, Kalemie, Moba, Tembwe and other areas”.