Congo Kinshasa
DRC rebel leader: "Unity would have achieved miracles"

Misanet.com / IRIN, 31 October - Unity three years ago between two of the rebel movements in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Rwandan-backed Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) and the Ugandan-backed Mouvement pour la liberation du Congo (MLC), would have "achieved miracles" RCD-Goma Secretary-General Azarias Ruberwa told reporters at Goma international airport on Tuesday.

- We are very satisfied with the alliance that has come about between the RCD and the MLC, Ruberwa said, referring to recent efforts by the two groups to establish closer ties, including the formation of joint military and political committees. 

- I think it is something that was lacking, he added. "Disunity did not pay off. If we had come together since the beginning of the war three years ago, we would have achieved miracles in this country, in this subregion."

For his part, MLC Secretary-General Olivier Kamitatu sought to allay concerns that the groups' backers, Rwanda and Uganda, might have about security concerns that they claimed brought them into the DRC in the first place. 

- We at the RCD and the MLC have a common vision, a shared vision for the future of Congo - that could reassure Uganda and reassure Rwanda, Kamitatu said. "I think it is the best possible situation and the best evidence of the alliance that we have decided to forge for the future of the region."

Ruberwa spoke of his aspirations for the two groups to become dominant forces in any future political system of the DRC to be determined at the inter-Congolese dialogue, due to be held in South Africa at a location and date to be announced. 

- We are going to be transformed into political parties, Ruberwa said. "We are going to be parties which can form coalitions, as is the case elsewhere in the world. You know that we are going to have elections at the end of the transitional period. If we maintain our alliance, and I hope we are going to, we are going to win elections as a coalition of political parties."

Ruberwa also said that the Congolese people were the first and foremost consideration in this political alliance. 

- The important thing here is to realise that we are acting out of good faith. This alliance is not for our own benefit, but for building the country and saving it from dictatorship, he added. "It is meant to improve the socioeconomic situation of our people and to bring about both reconciliation and security to the Congolese people and the people of the subregion."

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