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Africa News afrol News
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Africa News afrol News
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afrol.com, 26 October - Just over one week after the cease-fire and promises to withdraw their troops by at least 15 km, Government troops, backed by Zimbabweans and Namibians, are launching a major offensive, recapturing the southern Katanga province of Congo Kinshasa (DRC). The rebel army Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) and its allies Rwanda and Uganda have protested to this break of the cease-fire, and urged the signatories of the Lusaka Peace Agreement, the UN and the OAU to "take note and act urgently to contain escalation of the war in the DRC". According to reports from the RDC and the Rwandan Government, renewed fighting broke out in Katanga, the native province of DRC President Kabila, after Government forces and their allies launched a major campaign to recapture the province held by the rebels for several month. "A combined force of FAC, ex-FAR, Interahamwe, FDD, and MAI MAI supported by Zimbabwean and Namibian forces have intensified their military offensive along Tanganyika Sector in Katanga province," the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement today. The statement was the first official confirmation that Government forces had already captured some RCD positions. The captures include Kontaula, Kasasaika, Musa, Balanga, Mutoto-Moja, Kyeruzi, Murungusha as well as Pepa town and airport. RDC rebels, in a PANA interview, also report that he strategic Mbandaka locality on the road to Kinshasa, is at stake. The Rwandan Ministry futher confirmed that these troops had bombed Moba and Moba Port causing damage and civilian casualties. Having occupied these RCD positions, the same forces have continued to advance up to Rwandan Army positions and are now engaging the Rwandan Army, using long-range artillery, tanks, bombers and boats. DRC, Zimbabwean and Namibian troops seem to have gained an upper hand in the ongoing fighting, but the rebel movements and its Rwandan ally have stated that they will not let these advances go unanswered. Rwanda, obviously feeling itself tricked into a cease-fire under false conditions, indicates that it will take any action to reverse the gains made by these troops. "Under these circumstances, the Government of Rwanda wants to make it very clear that the RPA [Rwandan Army] reserves the right to defend itself and its allies, and to react in such a way that the situation is put back in its proper perspective. This major setback to the Lusaka Peace Agreement and the seeming breakthrough in the Maputo peace talks on 16 October might have severe effects on the DRC conflict, or "the first African War," as it has been called. Confidence was low, but now has disappeared totally. Earlier critics against the DRC Government made by SADC (Southern African Development Cooperation) have been ignored, and this time, even the SADC members Zimbabwe and Namibia seem to participate in the break of the cease-fire. Sources: Based on
Rwandan Government and afrol archives
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