Africa News Digest
Rwanda Invades Eastern Congo Again in New Aggression
Rwanda has again invaded eastern Congo, according to multiple reports. Congolese cabinet minister Mbusa Nyamwisi, from the northeastern city of Beni, reported Nov. 30 that, "We are being attacked by the Rwandan troops." A Western diplomat wishing anonymity told Associated Press Nov. 29 that "it is certain" that thousands of Rwandan troops had crossed into Congo, citing reports to his embassy from its workers, from aid groups, and others. A park ranger at Virunga National Park, who saw 400 Rwandan troops cross into the park Nov. 28, told AP that the well-armed troops appeared to be headed north, toward remote volcanic mountains north of Goma.
According to the Secretary General of the Rally for Congolese Democracy-Liberation Movement (RCD-ML) party, Jean-Louis Kyaviro, reporting from Beni Nov. 30, two brigades of the Rwandan Army entered Congo "several days ago" in the area of Rutshuru and Lubero (North Kivu). "The Rwandan soldiers burned some huts on Sunday," Nov. 28, in nearby villages, and the bodies of 60 villagers have been recovered, he said, according to AFP Nov. 30.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the week before, had threatened to invade, complaining of attacks by groups of Rwandan troops of the government he overthrew, operating from Congo. UN Security Council envoys Nov. 25 attempted to talk him out of it, but Kagame boasted that the invasion "will not take long, or may even be occurring now."
Ugandan Defense Minister Amama Mbabazi told AFP Nov. 30 that there are indeed elements ready to attack Rwanda from eastern Congo, but pointed out, after a meeting in Washington, that Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo had signed an agreement for security cooperation, working through a joint Commission for Defense and Security, in October. "We understand the threat to Rwanda," he said, "because we are also threatened by these developments in Congo, but we must attempt to use these mechanisms as far as possible, before seeking other solutions."
Congo's President Joseph Kabila announced Nov. 29 that he would send 10,000 more troops to North Kivu Province within two weeks.
There are "20,000 Rwandan soldiers and some 20 tanks positioned along Rwandan's border with Congo" from Bukavu to Kamanyola (about 30 km apart) the Kinshasa daily La Reference Plus reported Nov. 30, citing "a generally well informed source in the security service in Bukavu."
Thousands of people are reported to be fleeing their homes, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian affairs says, according to BBC Nov. 30. Bukavu residents are reportedly gathering rocks to fight off the Rwandans.
The real reason for Kagame's invasion is that Kabila is moving steadily to regain control of North and South Kivu, and kick out illegal mining operations run from Rwanda that are flying out ores by the planeload. Kagame has used the revenue from these operations to maintain his well-equipped army. Two Belgian dailies, Le Soir and La Libre Belgique, revealed Nov. 29 that Kabila intends to recall to Kinshasa the governor of North Kivu, Eugene Serufuli, and the military commander of the 8th military region, Gen. Obedi Ruibasira, because they were "facilitating the infiltration of the Rwandan army into the Congo and the plundering of its resources." Both papers say that Kagame "is furious" and intends to "make that part of the country unruly so that Kabila would not move the two Rwandan accomplices." The Belgian papers are quoted by the Congolese daily, Le Phare, Nov. 30.
Kabila, through Vice President Bemba, also announced Nov. 1 the spending of $27.5 million to rebuild the infrastructure of North Kivu's capital, Goma, and repair the Kisangani-Beni road, thereby improving local confidence in the central government.
Ambassadors in Kinshasa Denounce Rwandan Aggression, U.S. Sends Envoy
The International Committee to Accompany the Transition (CIAT)a kind of Congo users' group of foreign ambassadors in Kinshasa, the Congolese capitaldenounced as "aggression" Rwanda's latest invasion of Congo, after meeting in extraordinary session Dec. 1, AFP reported.
The U.S. State Department expressed "profound concern" over reports of an invasion Dec. 3. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Donald Yamamoto was to arrive in Kinshasa Dec. 4 and go on to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, from there.
A British Foreign Office spokesman said the British government is "very concerned over the news that Rwanda is contemplating an incursion" in Congo, and that Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn has spoken with Kagame. "Any military incursion ... could have serious repercussions for all implicated parties," he said. Britain and the U.S. are so far making no statements saying that Rwanda has actually invaded Congo.
Obasanjo has 'Wonderful Meeting' with Bush on African Oil
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo met with President George Bush in the Oval Office Dec. 2, and called it a "wonderful meeting." Obasanjo said they had, in the paraphrase of a State Department news release Dec. 2, "discussed ways of enhancing the flow of resources and assistance to Africa, as well as increasing the availability, security, and stability of oil exports from the Gulf of Guinea."
On other matters, Obasanjo said, "Nigeria is leading in the area of solving the problems of ... Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sudan. And we are satisfied. And we are keeping the U.S. government briefed. And we are getting support from the U.S. government.... We are working together."
Before the meeting, Bush thanked Obasanjo for Nigeria's contributions to the peacekeeping forces of the African Union.
Obasanjo was scheduled to meet later with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
In a CNN interview a few hours after meeting with Bush, Obasanjo was asked whether he agreed with the U.S. government's assertion of genocide in Sudan. He replied, "Now, what I know of Sudan, it does not fit in all respects to that definition.... The government of Sudan can be condemned, but it's not ... genocide." "The real issue of Darfur," he said, "is governance. It is a political problem which mushroomed into a military [one] when the rebels took up arms."
Chirac Meets with Al-Bashir at Francophone Summit
French President Jacques Chirac met with Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir on the sidelines of the Francophone summit in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Nov. 26. Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Isma'il told SUNA that Bashir reiterated Sudan's commitment to a negotiated peace with the South and in Darfur. Chirac, he said, affirmed that France will play an important role in the rebuilding and development of Sudan and the removal of Sudan's debts. Isma'il said France has confirmed its support for Sudan's application for observer member status of the International Organization of Francophone Countries (OIF). Bashir invited Chirac to visit Sudan.
Chirac Behind Call To Implement Ivorian Peace Accords at Francophone Summit, but Gbagbo Intransigent
French President Jacques Chirac mobilized the tenth Francophone summit in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, around strengthening the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), according to Agence France Presse Nov. 27. Chirac himself delivered what he called a "firm and friendly" message to the contending Ivorian parties. The summit adopted a resolution Nov. 27 that said the accords of "Marcoussis and Accra III are the sole path for lasting reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire," and the Francophone leaders "demand their strict application." (The accords would almost certainly put the Northern forces in power.) Côte d'Ivoire became the main focus of speeches at the Nov. 26-27 summit, which drew about 40 heads of state and government, 27 of them African.
Côte d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo is not cooperating, however. He boycotted the summit and sent a minister, who brought boxes of an anti-French pamphlet titled, "France's War in Côte d'Ivoire." When the Burkinabe police sought to confiscate them, he went home in a huff. Earlier, Gbagbo replaced his moderate Army Chief of Staff with Col. Philippe Mangou, who supervised the attack on Bouaké that broke 18 months of truce.
No one speaks of the IMF as the source of the conflict.
Sudan: Garang Quiets Militantly Secessionist Faction
Reports of a split between John Garang, chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), and deputy chairman Salva Kiir, who is also Chief of the Staff of the Army, the SPLA, emerged after the middle of November. Kiir has been characterized as a southern secessionist averse to even a temporary union with the North.
In a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya, Dec. 2, Garang said that disquiet within the movement and the armyhe referred to "a political virus"had been resolved at the three-day meeting of 200 delegates in Rumbek, southern Sudan, that ended Dec. 1. He said that all SPLA soldiers "without exception" would be given jobs under the new dispensation after agreement with the government of Sudan. With Sudan in the grip of IMF policies, Garang is likely to find that he cannot keep this promise, and the secession of the South will follow.
An article on the SPLM/A's website, "Rally in Rumbek," says the conference voted "to pursue and sign the final peace agreement by the end of December 2004." Accompanying pictures, dated Dec. 1, show Garang and Kiir smiling, next to each other in the leadership line-up, in which all hands are joined and raised. Reports follow.
'Southern Source' Claims Kiir May Replace Garang
"Differences between SPLA/M Chairman Dr. John Garang and his deputy, Salva Kiir, have now escalated beyond the point of no return," the London-based daily Asharq al-Awsat reported Nov. 23. Kiir is reportedly much more committed to southern secession, while Garang is said to dream of ruling a united "New Sudan." Garang denied the existence of any dispute within the SPLA Nov. 21, "however, a southern Sudanese source told Asharq al-Awsat that Salva Kiir is 'preparing shortly ... to declare the removal of Dr. Garang from the leadership of the SPLA/M, this coming after Salva Kiir had apparently gained the support of the majority of the commanders and soldiers, and also of the political base,' " according to the daily.
SPLA Source Confirms Factional Struggle
SPLA leader John Garang and more than 100 field commanders began meeting in the southern town of Rumbek Nov. 28, according to an AFP wire that includes this:
"One senior SPLM/A delegate, who did not want to be named, told AFP that the Rumbek meeting, which is due to close Dec. 1, will also address growing divisions in the movement.
"'There has been a growing dissent from the Kiir team,' one rebel official, who declined to be named, said in reference to SPLM/A deputy leader Salva Kiir.
" 'It appears they are not happy with the way Garang is pursuing the peace talks and, of course, the Garang team is fighting back,' the official added."
Sudan's Ruling Party Expresses Support for Garang
The Leadership Office of the ruling National Congress (NC) party, with President Omar al-Bashir presiding, "underlined the keenness of the NC on the unity of the SPLM led by John Garang," because it wishes to complete the peace process, the Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported Nov. 29. NC Secretary General Ibrahim Omar told the press that the NC supported Garang unanimously, Deutsche Presse Agentur reported.
High-level talks between Garang and First Vice President Ali Osman Taha are to begin Dec. 6 in Kenya.
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