Congo Chronicle 17

February 2 - February 15, 1998

Sources: ACP, Reuters, Le Soir, Le Nouvel Afrique Asie

Government/ plans/ actions

The most important subjects treated at the meeting of the cabinet in the beginning of February were the economic problems and large infrastructural works. The session of the government took place in Lubumbashi under the terms of Kabila's intention to have the government's meetings alternately in different places of the country. The minister of State for Economics, Mpoyo, reported about the economic and financial planning, a.o.: setting up new codes for foreign investments, regaining of State money in private possession, maximizing of tax revenues. Mpoyo stated that the contacts with foreign investors and Gecamines, the so-called consortium for Kolwezi-West copper and cobalt exploitation, are passing well. On February 15, the contract for the preliminary works will be signed.

The minister of Public Works clarified the infrastructural achievements, specially of the most important road, Route Nationale 1, from the harbour of Matadi to Kinshasa.
For the road construction some foreign firms are chartered: a South African for the road from Kasumbalesa (near Lubumbashi) to Kolwezi, and a Ruandan firm for some roads in Kivu, near Bukavu. There is Chinese support for the project to connect the capitals of the provinces to each other by a asphalt ring road.
(note: It is regrettable that the important National Conference for the Reconstruction of Congo has not taken place. It should be a kind of grass roots conference of representatives of the whole society and the diaspora. To us it is not clear why it is suspended. There has started a Territorial Conference on February 12. This is a conference for officials ( governors and so on) about how to administrate the country, but this has not a grass roots character.)

Other economic projects

As a consequence of the Congolese visit to China, December last year, a joint venture has been agreed between Gecamines and the Chinese Society for the Exploitation of Minerals. The intention is: a year production of 1200 tons of copper and 200 tons of cobalt. The Chinese promised an investment of $ 400 million.

The Post minister, Kinkela, has explained the telecommunication agreements with China. Zhongxing Telecom will support a telephone network from Kinshasa to the entire interior of the country and with lines to abroad. A telephone material plant will be constructed and together with Chinese a post sorter center will be put up. Finally, introduction of GSM mobile telephone will be started.

The minister of Industry, Babi Mbayi, has received a delegation of the British Commonwealth Development Cooperation. This organisation is specially concerned with the development of middle and small enterprises in emerging countries. The minister talked with the delegation leader, Robert Lindsay, about financing of smaller enterprises and on the longer term of big industries.

Reuters reported (February 11) that the South African company Iscor wants to make a deal to modernize the Kamoto copper and cobalt plant.

The De Beers company, also South African, is back in Congo. It is consulting with MIBA (Societe Miniere de Bakwanga, Kasai Oriental) on the exploitation of diamonds.There are talks about a joint venture with a stake of 50% for De Beers, 40% for the Congolese state, 5 % for MIBA and 5% for the Belgian Sibeka, a company connected with De Beers.

Foreign contacts

The president of the election committee of the EU, Bacelar de Vasconcelo, visited Kinshasa on February 7. He wants to be informed of the advances of the election procedure. The EU has promised a financial support for the preparation of the elections.

The Swiss charge d'affaires, Roland, is been received in audience by Kabila on February 13 to talk about the bilateral cooperation. The Swiss government agrees with the proposals of the Friends of Congo meeting, held in Brussels December 3/4 1997, to sustain the development of Congo.

The president of the French Committee of the regional government of Brussels, Herve Hasquin, stayed in Kishasa for some days. He spoke (2/14) with ministers and with the president of the Constitutionnal Committee.He wants to enforce the relations between Congo and the francophone community in Belgium.

Visit of Jesse Jackson.

The special envoy of President Clinton, Jesse Jackson, arrived in Kinshasa on February 9, as a part of his mission to evaluate democratisation in Congo and some other African countries, like Kenya and Liberia. Jackson talked with politicians of the UDPS, PALU,and PDSC, respectively: Tshisekedi, Gizenga and Boboliko; and further with representatives of the civil society, religious organisations and the local press. President Kabila and minister of Foreign Affairs Bizima Karaha did not talk with him alleging that the announcement of the US visit has been sent too late.

Arrest of Tshisekedi

On February 12 Tshisekedi has been arrested. (note: It seems that the Congolese government has arrested him because of his talk with Jackson, but this is not sure. Since long ago there have been rumors that he was going to be arrested.)
With reference to this arrest ACP mentions the following: Tshisekedi is sent back his birth village in Eastern Kasai by the minister of State for Internal Affairs because of violation of the interdiction of party-political activities. Tshisekedi is reproached to have edited and dispersed pamphlets, inciting the population to civil disobedience, and to continue to organize illegal meetings of his own so-called transitional government. Kakudji reminds that in the past Tshisekedi has played a treacherous role: In 1960 as adjoint commissioner of Justice he collaborated in the arrest of Patrice Lumumba and his allies. Mawapanga, minister of Agriculture, reminds that Tshisekedi has repetedly been asked to cooperate at the reconstruction of Congo, but that he has always refused. Tshisekedi has therefore been sent back to his home village Kabeya-Kamuanga, with a large quantity of seeds of mais, soy, peanut,rice, and a mechanised till. The high return seeds will contribute to help the population to conquer food scarcity, Mawapanga said.

Flood

The board of the electricity company SNEL has depatched a quantity of 2 tons of medicines to Mbandaka, the capital of the Equateur province. It will also try to restore the power supply in the flood hit region. Agriculture minister Mawapanga said that the flood has done a lot of damage, but that many small farmers have managed to cope with the flooding. The damage is especially big for the mais and for casava roots that had to be dried and for peanuts that germinate prematurely because of the moisture.

Arrests, suspensions

At the end of January Joseph Olengankhoy, leader of the FONUS, has been arrested in Kinshasa and transported to Lubumbashi. The same happened to Zahidi Ngoma, founder of Forces du Futur. Colette Braeckman writes in Le Soir of February 2, that they are turned over to the ANR (Agence National de Renseignements). The temporary leader of this security service, mr Leta, held the same function under Mobutu, the real head, mr Kabwe, being hospitalized in South Africa after an armed attack. Braeckman alleges that they have been visited by a representative of Kabila, who tried to persuade them to join the AFDL. But they have refused.

On February 13 the minister of Justice has suspended two leaders of the OBMA (Office for ill-appropriated goods). It concerns Mulemba Mukabi, general director, and Mahamba Makubi, adjoint director. The ministry of Justice will do an inquiry after many complaints against them. They have sometimes confiscated properties that legitimately belonged to people.

Nationality problem

Three Congolese lawyers published a book about the nationality problem, ACP announces on February 5. The book "La legislation congolaise en matiere de nationalite de 1892 a ce jour", treats the legislation about the subject since the colonisation. The last legislation in 1982 annuled all former laws. ACP does not explain the content of the law of 1982, but it is clear that the nationality question is very important and has led to much violence. (note: In September 1996 Mobutu denied the Zairean (Congolese) nationality to the Banyamulenge, which set fire in the powder, initiating the war of the so-called rebels under Kabila.)

UN-mission to investigate the Hutu-massacres

Reuters reported (2/13) that the leading members of the UN- mission have gone to Mbandaka. The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, wants the definitive report ready at the end of May. Two members have left the team: the American Reed Brody and the Zimbabwean Chigowera. They are replaced by the American Daniel Michael O'Donnell, who investigated abuses in Guatamala after the 32 years civil war in that country, and the Canadian Paul Eugene Laberge, who instructed human rights investigation in Haiti.

Mobutists

Some ex-Mobutu dignataries have set up an organisation (Rassemblement des Congolais pour la Democratie) that wants to overthrow Kabila. This is mentioned by Colette Braeckman in Le Soir February 6.

The Swiss Federal court has rejected the request of the Mobutu family for lifting the embargo on Mobutu's possessions. (Le Soir, 2/11)

Interview with Charles Djungu Simba

Djungu Simba is a journalist who opposed actively against the Mobutu regime. After the arrival of Kabila he became at first an important employee by the Congolese television. In the interview with Colette Braeckman (Le Soir, 2/11) he tells about Kabila's arrival in Kinshasa.As to that he shortly published a book: "En attendant Kabila" ed. EPO, Belgium. He says that the Kinois (habitants of Kinshasa) had not much undergone the war. They supposed that they themselves had overthrown the dictator by means of their political action.There was a lack of communication between the AFDL and the Kinois too. The relations are now somewhat better: the Kinois are accustomed to Kabila who has learned gradually to reach out to the public. But criticism to the government's ministers still exist. Unfortunately the foreign aid is staying away. This is what Djungu calls a big mistake of the international community. Djungu is removed from the television, as consequence of some broadcastings contrary to the wishes of the minister of Information, Rafael Ghenda. Djungu thinks that he has payed toll to the contradictions on power level.

Kasavubu

Justine Kasavubu,Congolese ambassador in Brussels, wants to go to Kinshasa (Le Soir, 2/3). She likes to speak with Kabila concerning the debt problems of the embassy and the embassy employees who descend from Mobutu's time. Her relation with her "patron", the minister of Foreign Affairs Bizima Karaha, seems to be not so good. She has also objections to certain kinds of "parallel diplomacy". For exemple, the special envoy of Kabila, Dominique Sakombi arrives sometimes in Europe to speak with compatriots, mainly ex-mobutistes.