UNION
POUR LA DÉMOCRATIE
ET LE PROGRÈS SOCIAL

Press release

South Africa mini-summit on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Midwest Federation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) supports regional efforts to bring about an immediate ceasefire, to resolve the conflict peacefully, and to set up a framework for a lasting peace in Congo according to the resolutions of the National Sovereign Conference.

Considering the blood shed both under Mobutu's and under Kabila's regime by many Congolese and by many of our UDPS comrades who have given up their life as a supreme sacrifice for the revival of our country and for the implementation of the resolutions of the National Sovereign Conference, the Midwest Federation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) sincerely appreciates the initiative taken by President Mandela of South Africa to convene a mini-summit in South Africa on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also salutes the willingness of the main players in this conflict to positively respond to this wise initiative.

The Midwest Federation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) reiterates its call on the Congolese government and rebel leadership to take all possible actions to immediately stop warefare.

The UN report on the killing of scores of Rwandan Hutu refugees, including women and children, during the bush war that lead to to the ouster of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko and the self-appopintment of Kabila as new president of Congo is still fresh in our memory for us to tolerate or encourage any initiative aimed at resorting to violence and warfare to gain or maintain political power.

Mr Kabila came from the bush and fought a war with a basket full of promises to restore democracy, human rights and conduct free and fair elections. He was to set up a valid constituent assembly and institute far reaching and radical constitutional, electoral, political and public policy reforms in which all stakeholders (Congolese) were to participate. The Midwest Federation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) finds that Mr Kabila has failed to present a valid and acceptable transitional program and has disappointed a very large spectrum of the Congolese people including many of his former allies.

The Midwest Federation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) has also been disappointed to see other Congolese nationals relying on foreign military assistance in their attempt to ouster the new dictator. It has been equally disappointed to see Mr Kabila seeking and securing military assistance from other African countries to maintain what is widely known as an undemocratic government. In addition to countless sacrifices being imposed on the Congolese people, any such reliance on foreign military assistance by Mr Kabila and by the new rebels is very likely to jeopardize and delay the establishment of democratically elected institutions in our country. Current foreign involvement in the civil war has only the potential to exacerbate the conflict. The Midwest Federation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) is concerned that, if this involvement is not properly managed, the crisis will spin out of control and produce a long term cycle of political fragmentation, widespread bloodshed and further regional destabilisation.

The Midwest Federation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) further expresses its disatisfaction with the international community which has largely failed its moral duty when it accepted the idea of overlooking the resolutions of the National Sovereign Conference, when it recognized Kabila as President of Congo despite him using military means of seizing power, and when it largely kept silent as, during the last 15 months, the Kabila government commited numerous human right abuses against the same Congolese people they supposedly had come to rescue from Mobutu dictatorship. The Midwest Federation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) is saddened to see even those African governments that came to power through a democratic process supporting an undemocratic regime. It is a travesty of justice to see a democratic country supporting an undemocratic regime.

In consideration of all the aforementioned factors, the Midwest Federation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) wants to salute President Mandela's initiative to convene a mini-summit in Pretoria on the war situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Midwest Federation urges those meeting in Pretoria to show a high degree of patriotism in dealing with this issue. We particularly urge them to keep in mind that, to be a valid and positive contribution to solving the current political crisis in Congo, any agreement coming out of this mini-summit should refer to and take into consideration the major provisions of the political framework that was developed by the National Sovereign Conference (NSC). Under that framework, a two-year broadly based transitional government has to be formed and has to be entrusted with the responsibility of organizing free and fair elections. A broadly based valid constituent assembly has to be created to write the constitution and to serve as a counter-balance to the executive power of the transitional government. The Congolese people expect far reaching and radical constitutional, electoral, political and public policy reforms in which all stakeholders (Congolese) will participate. As the major political party in Congo, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) should be validly involved in every aspect of governance of our country. Any thing less than these widely accepted provisions of the National Sovereign Conference will not create a lasting peace which we long for to ensure a real reconstruction of our country. Any outcome that is less than these widely accepted provisions of the National Sovereign Conference shall not be accepted and and shall not get implemented. The Midwest Federation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) urges those meeting in Pretoria to not disappoint the Congolese people with band aid solutions which will not meaningfully solve the fundamnetal issues facing our nationr at this particular juncture of its history.

The Midwest Federation of UDPS supports regional efforts to bring about an immediate ceasefire, to resolve the conflict peacefully, and to set up a framework for a lasting peace in Congo according to the resolutions of the National Sovereign Conference for which the blood of our people and of our many comrades has been shed as a supreme sacrifice for the revival of our country.

Released in DeKalb, USA on August 23, 1998

The President of the Midwest Federation of UDPS

Professor Ngoyi K. Zacharie Bukonda Northern Illinois University De Kalb, IL, USA