October 16, 2000
The key nations involved in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday 16th October recommitted themselves to the Lusaka peace deal and agreed to United Nations monitoring of the cease-fire. The new peace efforts came after a one-day meeting in Maputo between the leaders of five countries, mediated by President Thabo Mbeki. Those present included DRC President Laurent Kabila, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Joachim Chissano of Mozambique.
Mbeki's office said in a statement issued after the talks that the meeting focused on practical efforts to speed up the implementation of last year's Lusaka peace agreement.
The main issue at the meeting was the withdrawal of foreign troops from the DRC.
The leaders agreed that:
- all those involved in the war should return to original cease-fire positions in the Lusaka agreement with an additional withdrawal of 15 km;
- there would be further voluntary disengagement to ensure that no clashes took place, and in this regard Kagame offered to withdraw his troops a further 200 km;
- this process would be monitored and verified by United Nation forces.
The heads of state agreed to monitor the implementation of the agreement themselves and they would meet again in about two weeks to review progress.
Zimbabwe along with Namibia and Angola has provided military support to Kabila's troops since the war broke out in August 1998 while the rebels are backed by Rwandan and Ugandan troops. The Lusaka accord has been repeatedly violated and several other summits have been held to try to keep the accord on rails.
Both Chissano and Mbeki said that the absence from the meeting of Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos did not indicate his lack of support for the new peace efforts. Dos Santos wanted to attend but was unable to make arrangements to travel to Maputo at short notice.
Mbeki said in the statement that Monday's talks supported rather than replaced the Lusaka peace process which is headed by Zambian President Frederick Chiluba.
