sources: Le Soir, Africa News online, De Standaard, Afro Info doc.
April 3 2000
-The U.N. reports that since the outbreak of war in August 1998 1,3 million people have fled from their homes and 14 million people are suffering from malnutrition and lack of medicines.
-The Congolese minister of Home Affairs, Kakudji, says that parlement elections will be held before May 10. Kabila has rejected the propositions of the National Consultation: there will not be a government of national unity, the decree concerning political parties will be maintained and the Committees of Popular Power will not be abolished.
April 4 2000
-The Joint Military Commission (JMC) has a meeting in Kampala. The most important items are: the violations of the cease-fire, the cooperation with the UN-observer mission and financial funds for the peace activities. The Joint Political Commission of the belligerants will meet as well.
April 6 2000
-The Mayi-Mayi should have encircled the Plateau Moyen in South- Kivu. They should be led by Zimbabweans.
-Three leaders of the RCD-Goma are fired on a charge of espionage: Alexis Thambwe Mwambe, Jose Endundo Bonange and Lambert Mende.
April 8 2000
-The JMC decided to enter a new cease-fire dating from April 14.
In certain regions there will be free zones leaving the distance
between the opposite armies at least 30km. The presence of UN
troops could support this truce.
UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, appeals to the warring parties
in order to maintain this agreement and he urgently asks the UN
members to provide troops for the peace mission in the DRC
(MONUC).
Experts are supposing that the planned capacity of MONUC (500
observers and 5000 military troops) would not be sufficient to
fulfill its task. At least number of 16500 blue helmets should
be necessary.
April 10 2000
-The UN High Commissionary for Human Rights in Geneva has decided to extend the mandate of the Special DRC Rapporteur and to investigate the massacres of 1996 and 1997.
-There are big tensions between the Rwandan and Ugandan troops in Kisangani in East-Congo.
-The institution by the Congolese government of a Assemblee Constituante has been delayed.
April 14 2000
-The Congolese government has violated the new cease-fire at its commencing date, according to a report from the rebels. They say that the government has made assaults at two places (in Equateur and in South-Kivu).
April 23 2000
-The UN Special Representative in Congo, Kemal Morjane, reports that fightings have stopped since April 16. He urgently asks the UN to send troops.
-The American UN Ambassador, Richard Holbrooke, is the leader of a UN mission that will visit the Great Lakes Region from May 4 till May 8. Other members are: Peter van Walsum (Netherlands), Jean David Levitte (French), Moctar Ouane (Mali), Martin Andjaba (Namibia), Said Ben Mustapha (Tunesia) and Jeremy Greenstock (UK).
-There are big troubles within the rebel movements: Ilunga (RCD- Goma) has fired three fellow leaders and Wamba dia Wamba (RCD-ML) has nearly been chased away by Mbusa Nymawisi ans John Tibasima. Ugandan president Museveni recently consulted his Congo advisors to resolve the troubles around Wamba dia Wamba.
April 26 2000
-The current president of the OAU, Algerian president Bouteflika, plans a meeting with Kabila and his colleagues of Zambia, South- Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique and Mali on Sunday April 30.
May 3 2000
-President Mbeki of South-Africa declares that the SA army (South
African National Defence Force) is preparing troops (3000) and
tanks for support of the UN force.
According to the South-African leaders the tensions between them
and Kabila are resolved. Kabila should have recognized that the
role of South-Africa is important for a solution of the war.
-The UN and the Congolese government signed an agreement about the stationing of UN troops, that will have free access to the whole country.
May 5 2000
-The head of the observer mission in Kisangani, Akram Hossein, reports attacks of Ugandan troops on Rwandan positions. The Ugandans are advancing to the centre of the city.
May 8 2000
-After the visit of American Ambassador Holbrooke to Kigali the Rwandan government promises to withdraw its troops from the DRC. The Ugandan government has promised the same.
-The Danish government has asked Uganda to withdraw its troops from the DRC and to spend the war funds for social/economic development of the country.
May 9 2000
-The Ugandan military has bombed Kisangani's international airport Bangoka. The UPDF (army of Uganda) has reinforced its troops at the borders with Rwanda. Museveni did not assist at Kagame's inauguration as president of Rwanda.
-The Congolese government appeals to the UN to condemn the fightings of Uganda and Rwanda in Kisangani.These two countries are both engaged in plundering the Congolese minerals.
May 11 2000
-The UN have denounced the conflict between Uganda and Rwanda. Last week an unknown number of civilians have been killed by the fightings.
-Ketumile Masire, the mediator in the inter-Congolese conflict, has established his office in Kisangani and a second one in Gabarone (Botswana). He has not reached consensus with the Congolese opposite parties about the working-out of the dialogue. The international community has neglected till now to give financial support to Masires activities.
-Kabila annouces the institution on July 1 of a transitional parliament.
-There are manifestations of the Congolese population in Kivu (Goma) against the foreign occupation. On May 18 a 'celebration' took place in Bukavu to pray for the return of bishop Kataliko, banished to Butembo since February this year.
May 15 2000
-Uganda and Rwanda pretend to withdraw from Kisangani, each untill the distance of 100km from the city. However, there will stay 216 troops from both armies in Kisangani. This decision was made by Museveni and Kagame after a meeting on May 14 at Mwanza (Tanzania).
-A number of 36 or more people were killed in Katokota (South- Kivu, 60 km southwards from Bukavu) by soldiers from the RCD -rebels.
-Kabila sent a letter to Kagame insisting to finish the war.
May 16 2000
-Human Rights Watch reports very grave violations of human rights in East-Congo.
-Misna is reporting that the massacre of Katogota cost the life of more than 300 people.
May 22 2000
-The tensions in Kisangani have increased after the arrival of new reinforcements of troops and heavy weapons. The population lack now the most important basic food. It urges the UN to take action to the foreign troops. Efforts by the head of the UN- observer mission in Kisangani to bring together the military leaders of Uganda and Rwanda have failed. At the airport of Bangoka the two opposite troops are standing face to face. The army leaders, Gen. Odongo of Uganda and Gen. Nyamwasa of Rwanda, say they will leave the city before June 10 except for some batallions necessary to keep order.
-Masire fixed the dates of 5 till 7 June to meet with the Congolese government, the armed and non-armed opposition to prepare future inter-Congolese dialogue. He has recently talked with the rebel leaders at Goma, Bunia and Gbadolite.
-The EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs have expressed support to the Lusaka-agreement and to the mediators Masire and Mandela. (The latter is mediating in the Burundi conflict.) The EU want to restart the cooperation with the DRC and with Burundi to advance peace. The EU warns Uganda and Rwanda that the conflicts in Kisangani could have repercussion on the support from their donors.
May 23 2000
-The company Total-Fina-Elf has discovered oil in front of the Congolese coast. They got a concession from the DRC government to exploit a area of 5km. Some other companies are concerned parties: Agip and Exxon-Mobil.
May 29 2000
-MONUC reports the transfer of troops of the MLC along the river Ubangui and near Mbandaka (Equateur).
-A representative of the UN High Commissionary of Human Rights has gone to Katogota to invest the massacres.
May 30 2000
-Belgium intends to support the peace progress in Congo with a financial fund of 4 million BF for the activities of mediator Masire.
-There are reports (a.o. by Africa Confidential) that a joint Congolese and Zimbabwean diamond company, Oryx Diamonds, wants to go to the Bourse in London. This company should be the owner of a one billion dollar concession. Its registration is on the Cayman Islands. Certain press media suggest that these diamonds serve to fight Uganda and Rwanda (!). The UK tries to make the "conflict-diamonds" an issue on the next G8 summit (most important industrial countries) in Okinawa (Japon). A spokeswoman of De Beers (greatest diamond trader in the world) says that they do not deal with conflict-diamonds. Conflict-diamonds are diamonds that are extracted or stolen by rebel movements who resist a legitimate government.
May 31 2000
-Amnesty International says in a just published report that all parties in the Congolese conflict are guilty of violation of human rights. It asks the international community to stop supplying weapons to countries and parties in the DRC war.
June 3 2000
-Kabila and Kagame have a meeting in Endoret (North-Kenya), where they talk about different issues: the security of Rwanda, the status of president Kabila and the withdrawal of the foreign troops. Congo and Rwanda decide to exchange prisoners of war. They want to enter bilateral relations.
June 6 2000
-In Cotonou (Benin) on instigation of Masire a meeting takes place of rebels and members of the civil society coming from the East of Congo. There are no participants from government's side.
-In Kinshasa some Ministers are arrested: Kibassa Maliba (Mines), Bemba (Economy), Mpoyo (Oil) and Badi Mulumba (Planning). They are charged with financial malversations.
June 7 2000
-Heavy fightings take place in Kisangani between Ugandan and Rwandan troops. The cathedral has been hit by shells and is partially burnt down.
June 8 2000
-According to the International Rescue Committee 1,7 million people in Congo died as a result of the war, notably by violence, hunger or lack of medical care.
-The Congolese National Bank has devaluated the valuta with 61,7 % with regard to the dollar.
-The UN Security Council has appointed a Commission to investigate the origin of diamonds on the world market and the role of diamonds in war financing.
-The head of the UN observer team in Kisangani declares that the Ugandan and Rwandan troops are committing genocide on the Congolese population.
June 12 2000
-The Red Cross estimates that the number of deaths in Kisangani during the last days has mounted till 250. (See also: Medicin sans Frontiers). Water and electricity dropped out after shelling of the energy power station by Ugandan troops.
June 16 2000
-The UN Security Council accepts a resolution (Res.1304) that appeals to the foreign troops to leave the DRC. Uganda and Rwanda are summoned to leave 'without delay'.
June 19 2000
-Kofi Annan has declared that sanctions against Uganda and Rwanda will be necessary if they do not leave the DRC.
-The tension between Uganda and Rwanda continues after a week of heavy fightings; hundreds of Congolese civilians died and the city have been destroyed. The Rwandan army occupies the center of the city and two airports: Bangoka and Simi-Simi. The Ungandans are in the North of the city near the community of Kapalata.
-The Red Cross talks of 518 deaths. It thinks that many are still buried under the ruins. 1668 Injured people have been found.
- UN envoy Kemal Morjane says that Uganda and Rwanda now have withdrawn their troops in accordance with resolution 1304, Uganda has gone to the North and Rwanda to the East. But the population of Kisangani tells that many soldiers are staying in their city disguised as normal citizens.
-Tunesia prepares to sent a technical team to Kisangani. At this moment the number of UN observers in Kisangani is 30. They have no possibilities to do anything against agression of Ugandan and Rwandan military.
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
chronicle 25, august 27 - september 28 1998
chronicle 26,september 29- october 31 1998
chronicle 27, november 1- december 5 1998
chronicle 28, december 6 - january 24 1999
chronicle 29, january 25 - march 14 1999
chronicle 30, march 15 - may 9 1999
chronicle 31, may 10 - october 24 1999
chronicle 32, october 25 - january 9 2000
chronicle 33, january 10 - april 2 2000