Un Ougandais analyse la déclaration du Prof. Wamba-di-Wamba

Clement Kanyinda

Chers amis de Congonline et de Congo2000, La guerre au Congo-Kinshasa n'inquiete pas seulement les Congolais, mais aussi les Ougandais "soucieux" de la paix. Dans sa livraison du 7/11/98, le Global Pan African Movement a reporte une note du Prof. Wamba explicant ses propos retransmis par Reuters. Ce mouvement qui se soucie (semble-t-il) de la paix dans la region des grands lacs tente d'analyser les propos de celui qui est connu comme le Responsable politique de la Rebellion (nous verons si entant que responsable un jour il nous expliquera les enjeux de son mouvement, quel que soit l'issue de la guerre). Ce message ne pretend pas vous convaincre de vos positions anterieures ni vous faire changer d'avis. C'est plutot une donnee en plus pour ceux qui cherchent a savoir la verite (bien que la verite, personne ne la detient). Lisez et faites lire a vos amis. Clement Kanyinda-Malu. Wamba's clarification remains very much unclear. I read the Reuters' report and concluded that at least Wamba is now being honest  -- being the scholar that we all know -- to admit that there was,  indeed, an invasion of Congolese territory by Rwanda and Uganda. I  actually felt his frank admission would put him in trouble with the   leading politicians of the invading countries and militarists who are  surely the driving force behind the rebellion. The fact that there was  indeed an invasion from Rwanda and Uganda, which was aimed at toppling  a government and supporting armed rebels, does not mean that there is  no internal content to the rebellion! This is what Wamba is reported to have said in that interview: "All sides now accept that there was an invasion but also that the  internal element is the driving force". "The compromise is to say that there was an invasion but also that  the internal element is the driving force". According the Reuters' report, when Wamba was asked if the word  "ivasion" referred to Ugandan and Rwandan troops, this is what he is  reported to have said: "That's the only sense that's given to the word". Is Wamba now saying he did not utter these words? His clarification does not address this issue. With best wishes, Yusuf ----------------------------------------- FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE Clarification on the Reuters' Interview of Thursday 5th November, 1998 Prof. Wamba dia Wamba, the Chairman of the Rassemblement Congolais de la Democratie (RCD) wishes to make clarification on an interview he gave to a Reuters journalist yesterday 5th November, 1998 which was widely covered by other news agencies and media; The journalist had asked me, yet again, about the nature of the conflict in the DRC and our position on negotiations to bring the conflict to a peaceful end. I repeated our stated position since the conflict began. That the conflict has both internal and external dimensions but the internal dimension is the most decisive in resolving the conflict. I explained to him that Kabila and his allies have erroneously clung to the position that the conflict is the result of alleged invasion by neighbouring countries. Our view has always been that their position is both diversionary and untrue. It is the internal contradictions brought about by Kabila's lack of faith in democracy and the will of Congolese people, his nepotistic and sectarian politics that has made our country ungovernable and a threat to the national security of all our neighbours. Therefore the internal dimension is the driving force behind the conflict. It is encouraging that all genuinely concerned parties about lasting peace, security and national reconstruction both in the DRC and the region are now agreed that both the internal and external dimensions of the conflict must be addressed in order to find a durable democratic resolution. This is what made the last Lusaka talks much more promising than the previous peace efforts. This clarification is necessary because the Reuter's inaccurate report is being quoted by other agencies and used for negative purposes by certain vested interests in the conflict who may not share our cherished goal of peacefully negotiated settlement. I was explaining the two fundamental positions but the report erroneously suggested that the RCD accepted the Kabila position. This is not the case. It is our deep conviction that if we as Congolese are able to guarantee peace, security and good governance in our country we will be at peace with all our neighbours. Prof. Ernest Wamba dia Wamba Chairman, RCD Friday 06-11-98 Satelite Phone number 0873 762 014 529 or 0873 762 014 533 ********************************************* Global HeadQuarters Plot 1874, St Barnabas Road, Opposite Reste Corner Hotel, Kisugu-Muyenga, Kampala. Postal Address: P.O.BOX 7168 Kampala,Uganda. East Africa. Tel: 256-41- 267075 fax: 256-41-267075 e-mail: pawlo@imul.com