November 26, 2001
Congolese President Joseph Kabila has named governors for rebel-controlled provinces, a step opponents say threatens to upset the fragile peace process to end the devastating war.
The move, announced by Information Minister Kikaya bin Karubi, ended a week when Kabila met peace talks negotiator Sir Ketumile Masire and a top-level European Union delegation in an attempt to kick-start a national dialogue.
Talks stalled in October when the government walked out on the so-called inter-Congolese dialogue in Ethiopia.
The dialogue, due to resume in SA in January, aims to create a power-sharing government for the central African state, much of which is held by Ugandan and Rwandan-backed rebels.
"This is really looking for trouble. We are in the middle of the inter-Congolese dialogue and it's better to reach a consensus before doing something like this," said Mbwembwe Kabamba, an opposition leader in Kinshasa.
"It is simply provocation because the government has no authority in these occupied territories and it will create trouble because the armed opposition will respond," he said.
Phillippe Biyoya, a professor of international relations at the University of Kinshasa, agreed the move may ruffle feathers.
"It could be perceived as ill will," he said. "I think the government knows that. But it seems they want to assert their authority before any further meetings. They want to show they are the ones who will restore political order. It's not a concrete act so much as a message to the armed opposition."
A western diplomat said the appointments were a natural step after new governors were named last week for the main government-held provinces, and that it was in line with an agreement made by Kabila and rebels at talks in Gaborone in August hosted by Ketumile Masire, a former Botswanan president.
The government and the two main rebel groups agreed to treat the Democratic Republic of Congo as a whole rather than as the three territories they have carved out. The government has accused rebel backers Uganda and Rwanda of seeking to partition Africa's third biggest state.
In September the government offered to pay the salaries of public servants in rebel areas a move which the Rwandan-backed section of the rebellion criticised as muscle flexing.
The diplomat said Friday's announcement could prompt anger. "It's part of the government's political strategy to make a public display of power and I wouldn't be surprised to hear hostile noises from (rebel-held) Goma on this," he said. The government, backed by Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia, said it had not talked to rebel leaders about the new governors, who Bin Karubi hoped would take up their posts in the new year.
"The president consulted his cabinet and his ministers, but did not ask the opinion of the rebel leaders," Kikaya said. "We don't have to ask anyone. The president is the sovereign here."
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