Kagame discusses Congo conflict with Kabila, Annan

Rwandan President Paul Kagame met his Congolese counterpart Joseph Kabila and the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Monday, according to a statement from Rwanda’s presidential press office. The “consultative tripartite meeting” discussed the conflict in the DRC, during which Kagame reiterated his country’s commitment to full implementation of the Lusaka peace accord, the statement said. “The president expressed his disappointment to President Kabila and Secretary General Annan about the DRC’s continued violation of the Lusaka Agreement by supporting ex-FAR [former Rwandan army] and Interahamwe attacks on Rwanda.” The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the OAU summit in Lusaka, Zambia, was the third between Kagame and Kabila since the latter came to power following the assassination of his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, the Associated Press noted. Kagame told AP that the meeting, which focused on incursions into Rwanda by rebels alleged to be supported by the DRC, “went very well.” Kagame said he was optimistic because “when people are able to engage in dialogue, the talking itself brings hope”. Last month, Kagame expressed concern to Annan about the incursions, and he told reporters last week that the rebel attacks could delay or stop implementation of the Lusaka peace agreement. A draft resolution to be approved at the end of the OAU summit on Wednesday contained no reference to the DRC war because ministers who prepared the document refused a Congolese request that it condemn the plunder of the country by its enemies, AP reported.