RCD-Kisangani denies losing support

Depelchin also denied claims that the group no longer had any followers nor military support. He told IRIN that faction leader Ernest Wamba dia Wamba still had “thousands” of supporters. Depelchin maintained the group was still the legal representative of the RCD because it still adhered to the movement’s original institutions. “The RCD-Goma have changed the organs,” he said. “They take their cue from Rwanda.” With reference to the recent meeting in Dar es Salaam, he said the Tanzanian authorities were making a “last-ditch attempt” to resolve the issue as to which rebel group should sign the Lusaka peace accord.

His group was in favour of three separate signatures by RCD-Kisangani, RCD-Goma and the Mouvement de liberation congolais (MLC). He said there was provision in the accord for appending a third rebel signature. Depelchin further denied reports of secret meetings between Wamba and President Laurent-Desire Kabila. He said Kabila had requested a meeting with Wamba when the two men were in Zimbabwe recently, but the latter had declined.