RCD-Goma opposes separate Mayi-Mayi delegation at dialogue

Despite widespread agreement among all parties to the 1999 Lusaka peace agreement that the Congolese Mayi-Mayi militias should be included in the inter-Congolese peace and reconciliation dialogue due to begin 15 October in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Rwandan-backed Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) armed opposition movement said the militias could only do so as participants of a delegation mandated by the peace accord, and not as a separate entity.

Speaking to the BBC on Friday, RCD Secretary-General Azarias Ruberwa said: "The Mayi-Mayi are Congolese like anybody else but have no special status allowing them to participate as Mayi-Mayi. [Inter-Congolese dialogue facilitator and former Botswanan President Ketumile] Masire will ask Kinshasa to include in its delegation the Mayi-Mayi who wish so.

"If they refuse, those who will reach an agreement with the RCD will be included in our delegation. However, no delegation called 'Mayi-Mayi' will take part in the negotiations. That would change the entire Lusaka agreement."

During a preparatory meeting for the dialogue held last week in Nairobi, Kenya, a Mayi-Mayi spokesman said they wanted to send a delegation of 62 people to the talks.

"If we are not allowed to participate in this forum, if our demands are not taken into account, it will be illusory to think of any kind of peace," Anselme Enerunga was quoted as telling AP on Wednesday.

Participants in the dialogue are expected to draft a new constitution; to address regional security concerns; to discuss the integration of rebels into the DRC government and military; and to determine modalities for re-uniting government-held and opposition-held territory of Africa's third-largest country.