CONGO CHRONICLE 25
August 27 - September 27 1998
Sources: ACP, Le Soir, De Standaard, NCR, Congonline, NCN
August 28
- Zimbabwe sent 2800 troops who are now supporting the Congolese
army. A Zimbabwean airforce division of 2200 man is also
prepared.
- Angola is negotiating with the rebels in view of terminating
the occupation of the Inga-dam.
- The South African newspaper Mail & Guardian reports that both
sides - Kabila and the rebels - are employing South African
mercenaries.
- President Museveni of Uganda has in mind to stay with troops
in Congo till - as he says - Kabila stops the agression.
- A spokesman of the rebels, Ngagura, reports that 400 pro-Kabila
soldiers have been arrested in Kisangani and that 100 of them are
members of the ADF (Allied Democratic Front, a Ugandan rebel
movement)
August 30
- The rebels pretend to have captured the city of Moba situated
at the Lake Tanganyika.
- The Angolese have seized the Inga-dam. ( Le Soir, september 19,
reports that the US government has demand the Angolan leaders to
release the Ugandan and Rwandan troops, who were occupying the
Inga-dam)
- Harbour city Matadi is reconquered now by the government's
troops.
-The calm has returned in Kinshasa.The government has asked the
population not to take revenge itself on rebels who are still
staying in the city.
- The rebel leader commander Ondekane asserts that the rebels
still occupy the airport of Matadi and that they are still
present in capital Kinshasa.
August 31, there is a government message that the rebels have
been defeated in West Congo thanks to Angolan, Zimbabwean and
Namibian military support. From now on the war continues in East
Congo.
September 1
- The rebels report that they have taken Manono, the birth place
of Kabila in Katanga.
- President Chiluba of Zambia appeals the SADC member states to support Kabila
-In the regions controlled by rebels is question of lootings and
armed raids.
September 2
-Kabila assists the summit of the Non Alignment Movement in
Durban (South Africa). In a sharp speech he asks the withdrawal
from his country of Ugandan and Ruandan troops.
-Deputy president of the rebels, Nyarugabo, says that the rebels
are still present in 3 areas of Kinshasa: Ndjili, Limete and
Kimbanseke.
The rebels also pretend to advance from Kisangani in southern
direction to Ubundu and Kindu.
In Kivu, in Goma and Bukavu, the Ugandan and Ruandan army has
placed anti aircraft guns.
Kalemie, the most northern place in Katanga that is held by the
rebels, should be encircled by government's army.
- Reuters reports that a mass grave has been found near Kisangani
with about hundred Tutsi's.
- UNICEF complains about the lootings and devastation of her
offices in Kisangani, Goma and Bukavu by the rebels.
September 3
-President Mugabe of Zimbabwe prepares a conference on 6 and 7
September in Victoria Falls. He intends to invite Kabila as well
as the rebels.
- Museveni says to withdraw his troops if the security of his
borders will be guaranteed.
- President Mandela declares during the summit of the Non
Aligment Movement in Durban that he approves the military
intervention of the SADC states in Congo. Previously he condemned
the military support by Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
-Rwanda still denies to have troops in Congo.
-Zimbabwean army general Nyambuya asserts that the military
coalition will continue by an attack in East Congo.
September 5
-The Mail & Guardian reports about a plan to send a peacekeeping
force to Congo. South Africa should make a great number of troops
available for this purpose. The UN and the OAU should supply 18
000 man, the British and Americans each 2000,
the French 5000 and the Americans, in addition, 4000 marines.
- In South Kivu have been found the corpses of 633 civilians,
murdered by the rebels around the missionary post Kisaka.
September 6
- Military reinforcement of the Angolan, Zimbabwean and Namibian
army has arrived in Lubumbashi. One speaks of 400 troops Namibian
and 800 troops Zimbabwean. They will prepare the offensive
towards Kalemie.
- The humanitarian situation in Kinshasa is precarious.Indeed the
Inga-dam is relieved, but the damages inflicted by the rebels
have not yet been restored and the supply of goods and foods from
the West coast has not yet recommenced.
In Kinshasa, food and fuel are in stock for only a few days. A
Belgian airplane, the Hercules C-130, has just brought 350 tons
of food and in Pointe Noire (Congo-Brazzaville) there is another
750 tons of nourishment destinated to Congo.
September 6 and 7
- In Victoria Falls, a summit takes place between the
belligerants: Rwanda, Uganda, Congo, Zimbabwe, Namibia and
Angola. The presidency is in the hands of President Chiluba of
Zambia. The rebels are present but do not take part in the
official deliberations.
Present are also: Aldo Ajello, EU emissary for Central Africa,
the Belgian ambassador Stephane de Loecker and Salim Ahmed Salim,
secretary general of the OAU.
September 8
- President Chiluba op Zambia alleges that an accord has been
reached. (In reality it concerned only a final declaration.) The
content runs as follows:
1. all parties wish to end the military confrontation;
2. Uganda and Rwanda recognize the territorial integrity of the
RD Congo;
3. Kabila recognizes that Uganda and Rwanda have a security
problem;
4. Kabila is recognized as head of state of the RD Congo;
5. The defense ministers of the 7 countries will continue their
talks on Thursday September 10 in Addis Abeba to elaborate the
modalities for a cease-fire.
September 9
- Fighting continues. The Congolese army and allies carry out a
bombardment on a.o. Kalemie. They concentrate on three fronts:
Kisangani (Eastern Province), Lubutu (Maniema) and Kalemie
(Katanga).
- The rebels are plundering factories in Kisangani.
- The Belgian newspaper De Standaard writes about assistence by
South-african mercinaries on both sides:
* Security Lining / Pretoria supports the government troops
around Lubumbashi;
* Former officers of the South-african Defence Force are on the
side of Uganda;
* Mobutists in South Africa, a.o. ex-general Baramoto,
collaborate with the Rwandans and Banyamulenge, and have contacts
with South-african mercenaries.
September 10
- Rebels (more specificaly, Rwandans and Ugandans), waiting for
repatriation, have occupied the missionary center of Kisanto at
120 km from Kinshasa.
- Electricity is back in the center of Kinshasa.
- Sabena flights to Kinshasa will restart on 11 September.
- The Ugandans and Rwandans strengthen their positions in Goma,
Bukavu and Kalemie. Reported: transport of thousands of soldiers,
tanks, armoured cars, anti-aircraft missiles, mortars,..
- De Standaard reports that on 6 September 152 people have been
murdered by Tutsi soldiers in Kabara, a place north of Bukavu.
- In Kivu all international relief organisations, including the
IRC, have stopped their activities. Civilians are victims of
plunder and murder.
- The Congolese ministers of Human Rights, Okitundu, is looking
for a safe country for the Tutsi who, according to him, have to
leave Congo for security reasons. It concerns about 150 Tutsi who
are in camp Kokolo since the beginning of August.
September 12
- Reportedly, Lubutu has been reconquered by the Congolese army.
An offensive against Kalemie has started.
September 14
- The negotiations in Addis Abeba between the defense ministers
of the SADC-allies of Kabila and Rwanda/Uganda have failed.
- Museveni has admitted that Uganda has occupied some airports
in Congo, allegedly to prevent Sudan from landing there. Parts
of the 31th bataljon of Uganda are fighting in Congo. This
bataljon has been trained by the United States last year.
September 15
- The minister of Foreign Affairs of Sudan, Mustafa Osman Ismail,
says that his country is ready to support Kabila. For
argumentation he points out that Uganda is supporting the
Sudanese rebels of SPLA. By way of thanks SPLA troops are now
fighting in Congo on the Ugandan side.
- According to the Belgian minister Derycke Burundi is also
involved in the war. In the beginning of August Burundian troops
descended upon Congo at Uvira. They also have helped the rebels
to conquer Kalemie.
- Congolese Mai Mai militia attacked Bukavu and Goma. According
to the rebels Hutu militia, allied to Kabila, also joined the
battle.
In Goma disagreement has risen among the rebels. Some officers
have secretely passed information to the Congolese government.
- The annual summit of leaders of the SADC countries is held at
the isle of Mauritius under presidency of Mandela.
The summit supports the countries that assist Kabila in his
struggle. No clear condemnation was however on Uganda and Rwanda.
Kabila has expressed his readiness to organize a round table with
representatives of the 'forces vives' in his country aiming on
national reconciliation, after his returs from Mauritius.
- James Kabare, the former Rwandan chief staff of the Congolese
army, who played an imported role in the recent attack of rebels
in Western Congo, has reportedly fallen in battle.
September 16
-According to Uganda, the Sudanese government has sent 2000 man
troops to Kindu (province Maniema) to support the Kabila army.
The Congolese government denies this assertion.
-Kindu is now the springboard for the attacks of the Congolese
army and allies towards Eastern Congo.
- Kalemie has been reconquered by the Congolese army. Civilians
do not support the rebellion, they rather counteract it.
-According to Rwanda, Mai Mai rebels together with Hutu
Interahamwe militia has carried out an attack on the Rwandan
place Gisenyi.
September 18
- De Standaard reports massacres of civilians in Kalemie
performed by the rebels. In the beginning of September a hospital
should have been attacked and sick and injured people have been
executed. Later on still 50 civilians should have been murdered.
The source is: ASADHO (Association Africaine de Defense des
Droits de l'Homme).
Just before reconquering Kalemie the Congolese army should have
murdered 96 Banyamulenge.
- Kabila announces to continue the preparation of elections,
which will be held next year. Next month, October, a census must
take place.
Kabila has appointed a new minister of Foreign Affairs: Jean
Charles Okoto Lolakombe. He is originated from Kananga (West
Kasai).
Okoto has been in exile in the USA, where he was a member of the
diaspora organisation ANACOSA.
September 19
-ACP reports some economic facts:
Minister of Mining, Kibassa Maliba, has established a Chamber of
Mines.
In May 1998,the worth of the exploited diamants was $ 34 million
(1 559 603 carats).
- Kabila departed for Tripoli (Libya) to meet Khaddafi.
- A team of Congolese authorities together with UN personal
visits Bas Congo to survey the humanitarian needs.
September 21
- The new Congolese minister of Foreign Affairs, Okoto Lolakombe,
speaks at a press conference in Bruxelles about the enormous
damages caused by the war. In Matadi 300 transport buses were
captured by the rebels, harbour installations are destructed for
an estimated $ 3 billion.
Okoto declares that his government tries first diplomatically to
approach the UN and OAU, before an attack against the agressors
will start. He asks the EU to support the Congolese elections
and the planned census.
September 24
-The rebels pretend to encircle Isiro in the East Province
and to have conquered the gold mines city Kamituga in South
Kivu.
- In Gabon a regional summit of francophone states takes place,
with: Gabon, Congo, Chad, Central African Republic, Congo-
Brazzaville and Guinee-Equatorial. The present leaders give
political support to Kabila and reject the foreign agression
against Congo.
September 25
-De Standaard reports that Mobutu's son Kongolo has died. He was
the former head of the detested Division Speciale Presidentielle.
chronicle 8, september 15 -september 28 1997
chronicle 9, september 29 -october 12 1997
chronicle 10, october 13 - october 26 1997
chronicle 11, october 27 - november 9, 1997
chronicle 12, november 10 -november 23 1997
chronicle 13, november 24 -december 7 1997
chronicle 14, december 8 1997 - january 4 1998
chronicle 15, january 5 - january 18 1998
chronicle 16, january 19 - february 1 1998
chronicle 17, february 2 - february 15 1998
chronicle 18, february 16 - march 1 1998
chronicle 19, march 2 - march 15 1998
chronicle 20, march 16 - march 29 1998
chronicle 21, march 30 - april 26 1998
chronicle 22, april 27 - mei 10 1998
chronicle 23, mei 11 - mei 31 1998
chronicle 24, juni 1 - august 26 1998