Mayi-Mayi seek new Kivu dialogue and role in main dialogue

A coalition of Mayi-Mayi militia leaders in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) demanded on Tuesday that another 'inter-Kivu dialogue' be held before the inter-Congolese national peace and reconciliation dialogue due to begin on 15 October in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, AFP reported.

"We demand the immediate convening of a new inter-Kivu forum, under the supervision of a neutral facilitator to be held in a neutral country, before the beginning of the inter-Congolese dialogue," CONEMADIC, the negotiating committee for the inclusion of the Mayi-Mayi in the dialogue was quoted as saying.

CONEMADIC claims to represent Mayi-Mayi militias from Maniema, North and South Kivu provinces.

For the reconvened 'inter-Kivu dialogue' CONEMADIC seeks the participation of the Kinshasa government, traditional tribal leaders, civil society, as well as the Rwandan-backed Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) and the Ugandan-backed RCD-ML (Mouvement de liberation) armed opposition groups.

An 'inter-Kivu dialogue' organised by RCD-Goma was held from 22 - 25 September in Bukavu, South Kivu province. However, "this meeting did not produce anticipated results", Paulin Shetebo Kabulira, vice-president of CONEMADIC, was quoted as telling AFP. Numerous Mayi-Mayi militias and civil society organisations boycotted last month's meeting to express their opposition to RCD-Goma.

CONEMADIC also demanded that a Mayi-Mayi delegation be included in the inter-Congolese dialogue. "If we are not represented in Addis Ababa, the decisions taken there will be pointless, and we will sabotage them by military action and an intensification of operations," Shetebo Kabulira was quoted as telling AFP.