Global Policy Forum

By Silvia Aloisi

The Democratic Republic of Congo's government said on Monday it was ready to share power with rebels fighting a civil war since 1998 if they returned territories under their control to the Kinshasa administration.

In what appeared to be the government's most conciliatory gesture to date, an official spokesman said foreign-backed rebels could be appointed as ministers in a government of national unity if an agreement was reached. But, he said President Joseph Kabila would not step down ahead of elections, which could be held in two years' time, as requested by the rebels and some opposition politicians.

"We are ready to share power with the rebels at all levels except the presidential post," Vital Kamerhe told Reuters by telephone from the South African resort of Sun City, where peace talks between the belligerents started last month. "But, if we form a national unity government with them, they have to tell us how we are going to re-establish the authority of such a government over the entire territory," he said.

Rebel groups backed by Rwanda and Uganda control most of the the north and the east in the vast, mineral-rich central African country. Kabila's forces are supported by Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia in what has been dubbed "Africa's World War One". Kamerhe said the rebels, as well as one opposition party, were insisting that a new president should be named by the 300 delegates attending the Sun City talks.

But he said the government would never accept such an option. "The majority (of the delegates) back Kabila as president of a transition government until the elections," he said, adding that there was general agreement at the talks that polls should be held in 2004.

Kabila came to power in January last year when he took over from his father Laurent, who was shot dead by one of his own bodyguards. His government created its own political party at the weekend, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, in what it said was a sign of its commitment to democracy.

The last presidential election in the former Belgian colony took place in 1984 under late dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. The Sun City talks, designed to chart Congo's political future, have been dogged by mutual accusations of ceasefire violations and bickering over representation. However, since the government and the rebels agreed earlier this month to withdraw from positions taken during recent clashes in Congo, some progress has been made.

Kamerhe said military issues such as the make-up of a new national army were still unresolved. The government has proposed to integrate rebel forces into the current army, while the rebels want a new national force to be set up.

"I think if we get a political agreement, then an accord on the military matters will follow," Kamerhe said, adding that discussions on a new constitution could not start until a broader political framework had been agreed upon by all sides. Zambia has invited leaders of all countries involved in the conflict to meet for talks in Kinshasa on Wednesday.

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