Congolese people who are facing a war that is plaguing families with daily bereavement are forwarding the following message to the international community and Commonwealth State members.

1. Three years ago, Congolese people saluted the contribution of some brother countries and friends who helped to topple Mobutu from power and put an end to 32 years of dictatorship and bloody regime. Very soon, and to our dismay, we, Congolese have realized that the new regime was fast in establishing and reinstating another despotic regime, not different at all from the previous one.

 

In fact, the coming of Laurent Kabila in power, did not meet the expectation of people who hoped that peace, democracy and reconciliation will be re-established. Instead, the new regime embarked in the process of re-installing dictatorship, suppressing fundamental freedom and abusing basic human rights. All of this comes in front of guilt silence of the international community who supported Kabila and his regime on the pretext that he needed time.

 

2. The situation erupted in a war that is causing day after day several deaths, displaced and homeless people in a country already plagued by three decades of a chaotic and disastrous political, economical and social management. Presently, the DR Congo is invaded by neighbouring country forces, which are shamelessly plundering the country. In reality the integrity of the state is presently at stake, considering that the country is already divided into four major warring factions.

 

 

3. This situation is deepened by the civil wars in neighbouring countries such as Angola, Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Sudan. As a result, the DR Congo is experiencing an unprecedented movement of military forces, which are making the country a battle field for their devilish interests and not for the interests of Congolese people.

 

4. Congolese people have appreciated the efforts undertaken by the SADC and the international community that culminated in the signing of the cease-fire agreement in Lusaka, July 10-1999. However since then, it has been noticed that belligerents, as well as the UN are dragging their feet. Both the military and political sides of the Lusaka agreement are far from being implemented.

This delay has resulted in a situation where belligerents are digging in, building up their respective armies and supplying their troops with ammunition and arms.

5. The present development of the war could jeopardize all effort and hope for peace in the DR Congo and in the Great Lakes Region as both conflicting parties are contemplating to resume fighting.

Facing this horrible situation, the UPDS and Allies are pleading to Excellencies Heads of States and delegations, presently at this Commonwealth Summit for the following:

• To consider without complaisance all possible and urgent solutions or ways that could quickly re-establish peace and stability in the DR Congo.
• To pressurize the belligerents for the immediate implementation of the Lusaka peace agreement. This will be possible only when the international community and especially African organizations accept to take charge of the situation to stop hostilities.

UDPS and Allies are hereby urging the SADC community to act responsibly as ECOWAS did in West Africa in solving the problem in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

• The withdrawal of all foreign armies presently in the DR Congo according to the Lusaka peace agreement.
• To help in achieving a direct internal political negotiation between all the political and social forces representative of the public opinion in the DR Congo. This will allow national reconciliation based on an harmonized view of a consensual management of the country during a transitional period that conforms to the requirements expressed by the people gathered in Kinshasa in the Sovereign National Conference in 1991-1992
• The consensus will make it possible to establish in our country a new political order that will give people peace of mind to properly prepare for the local, legislative and presidential elections.

• Furthermore, stability of the DR Congo, based on the implementation of the above-mentioned recommendations, requests good governance and cohabitation. This will stop the uncontrolled people displacement to solve once the frontier security problem between the DR Congo and its neighbours. It guarantees also territory integrity and sovereignty of the country, which are recognized rights for each state by the UNO and OAU charts.
• The commitment from the international community to respect and support the internal consensus reached by political negotiation in the DR Congo as well as by its neighbours.

The UDPS and Allies have given their full support to the mediation process headed by His Excellency, Frederic Chiluba, under the supervision of the SADC and in conjunction effort with the OAU and the UN.

The UDPS and Allies would like to re-affirm their commitment and determination to preserve, whatever the circumstances, the national unity, the national sovereignty of the State and the territory integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We are convinced, His Excellencies Heads of States and Delegates, that the international community gathered in Durban in the framework of Commonwealth Summit, will play a major role in bringing an end to the Congolese crisis and in bringing peace in the DR Congo at the eve of the millennium.

Sincerely,