New Year Message from the national President of the UDPS

In our position as leader of the Democratic Opposition in theDemocratic Republic of Congo, we feel happy of carrying out the agreeable duty to address to our people this message of peace, reconciliation and unity, at the twilight of an ending era and at the dawn of the breaking third millennium .

For the Congolese people, the most prominent moment of the ending century was the 30th of June 1960, the day that our country accessed to the independence and freed itself thus from the Belgian colonial yoke. Joy shouts and rejoicing chants burst forth from all sides. But very early, they were replaced by wailings and shouts of distress; because to joys of the independence had succeeded all kinds of political tumults: civil wars, secessions, rebellions and then a very long and tedious dictatorship.

For the time being, the country is torn by a fratricide war backed by foreign forces; death, desolation and misery have become the daily lot of our people. We appreciate the patience and the endurance of this people and we remain besides it in the struggle for the restoring of righteous society , built on moral and democratic values which will ensure the welfare of everyone, from the youngest child to the old man.

All hopes are now allowed because the peace agreements recently signed in Lusaka have demarcated the road for the dialogue between the different political forces of the country at the end of which the DRC will be endowed with institutions that will make it a constitutional State, strong and democratic in the center of Africa.

Let the Lord grants to you all abundant joys and blessings in the course of this era which we are starting up to day. Happy New Year!

Johannesbourg, December 31th 1999
Etienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba
National President of the UDPS and Leader of the Democratic Opposition

Translated from the French by Raph KASHALA