Glimmer of light as sides agree to discuss

African states involved in the DRC conflict have agreed to meet in Lusaka on 27 and 28 December to try and reach accord on a ceasefire, news organisations reported today (Friday). The announcement was made by OAU Secretary-General Salim Ahmed Salim today at a news conference in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, following an OAU summit meeting. Current OAU chairman, Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore, said the warring sides had worked on a “pre-agreement” and it was hoped the Lusaka summit would finalise the pact. According to Reuters, a five-point OAU report made the following recommendations: an immediate ceasefire, respect for national sovereignty, withdrawal of foreign troops, the need to address security concerns in DRC and neighbouring states, and the need to facilitate internal political dialogue in DRC. Leaders of the rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD) were in Burkina Faso, but did not take part in the meeting. Participants said pressure was put on President Laurent-Desire Kabila to negotiate with the RCD, but he appeared reluctant to soften his stance of refusing to meet the rebels. Kabila claims the conflict is an “outside aggression” waged by Rwanda and Uganda, which were represented at the meeting by their foreign ministers. No breakthrough at OAU meeting on Ethiopia-Eritrea dispute The Ouagadougou meeting also discussed the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea, but no major breakthrough was reported. According to AP, the countries’ leaders continued to openly accuse each other of unprovoked aggression.