UNION
POUR LA DÉMOCRATIE
ET LE PROGRÈS SOCIAL

Mr LOUIS MICHEL OVERSHADOWS Sir KETUMILE MATSIRE'S JOB

"Unless the non-armed opposition unites, its members will not be invited to attend the meeting in Abuja on 10th December 2001" This statement made by the Belgian Foreign Minister after meeting the delegation of the non-armed opposition in Kinshasa last week unveils the true and genuine intention of Belgium and France to accommodate Kabila to the detriment of the opposition.

The Office of Representation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress in the United Kingdom understands that its Leader, Mr Etienne Tshisekedi, is the main target in this Franco-Belgium manoeuvres aiming at political exclusion of members of the opposition in the transitional government.

The meeting of Congolese warlords (Kabila-Bemba-Onosumba) in Abuja(NIGERIA) on 10th December 2001 is merely a violation of the Lusaka Peace Accord signed in 1999. It is, therefore, in contempt to the International Community efforts to bring about peaceful and political settlement in the long and complex crisis in the great lakes region.

Nearly two months after the failure of the political negotiations in Addis Abeba, allegedly due to financial difficulties encountered by the Office of the Facilitator, its resumption is still precarious.

In the light of Mr Louis Michel statement, we are under no illusion that the walk out performed by Mr Kabila's delegation was, of course, pre-planned by Belgium in order to sabotage the whole Inter-Congolese Dialogue.

As we understand the current situation, Mr Kabila is being pushed by Belgium and France to hold his grips on his forged power, and is determined to seek guarantee to carry on his poor performance as head of the State. This, of course, is the genuine motive as to why Sir Ketumile Matsire has not had free hands to perform his obligations as a Facilitator.

Over the last six months, the Office of Representation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress in the United Kingdom has questionned the role of Belgium and France in the congolese peace process. It is now clear to comprehend that those two countries constitute a genuine threat and obstacle to the entire peace process. The financial difficulties encountered by the Facilitator are fabricated and machined by Belgium and France that sole aim is to pursue their economical interests in Congo.

With Mobutu's blessing, those two countries have illegally exploited the wealth of Congo and, promised and delivered, on numerous occasions, military support. It is naive to believe the charming statements made by Mr Louis Michel as they lack credibility in regard to the obvious accommodation of the new dictator Kabila.

Having colonial and linguistic links with Congo, Belgium and France appeared to the International Community to have better understanding of the congolese affairs. Yet, their expertise on Congo is falling short to help the International Community to put an end to the crisis.

Nearly six months to present at the Presidency of the European Union, the Belgium government has not done enough to generate a concrete and clear strategy that should move the peace process forward. Every day, the Congolese political sky is getting cloudier. On the economic front, a number of Belgium businessmen have staged Congo in an attempt to invest in that war zone.

Belgium and france are the only countries in the world to have resumed structural co-operation with Congo and that is a clear indication to accommodate dictatorship to the detriment of the peace process.

The international propaganda performed by most of their media in favour of Kabila is so eloquent that the impartiality of both countries becomes more and more questionnable.

In spite of the New World Order spelled out by the British Prime Minister on 2nd October 2001, Congolese people are still waiting and waiting to hear from the International Community the fate of their country.

Does the power sharing between the warlords put an end, on short, medium or long term basis, to the long crisis? It will be naive to adhere to such rushed conclusion.

It is always our understanding that the crisis in Congo is the pure fruit of bad governance characterised by the lack of democratic istitutions and constitution, the mismanagement, the systematic violation of human rights, the corruption, the nepotism, the social injustice and the socio-economic deprivation.

It is also our view that only a sincere and frank dialogue of Congolese can address those issues. But the good and peaceful nature of our people is now interpreted by Belgium and France as a weakness.They carry on pushing our people as far as to death; no one is prepared to keep on contemplating this provocation to get further.

Our people are frustrated, anxious, saddened, desparate, disillusioned, confused and angered by the attitude of those countries that were supposed to assist Congolese to get together.

This undeclared war by Belgium and france towards Congolese people will be regretable unless the International Community steps up with sensible and credible solutions to Congolese crisis. It seems like those who used violence as means of voicing their concerns are the best served in the world. But prioritising violence users only send a bad signal to the whole world.

Time will show.

Philippe Mandangi
UDPS Senior Representative
in the United Kingdom.

34 Granard House
Bradstock Road
London E9 5BN
Tel. 0044 775 925 0963