DRC talks will fail, says activist

A Congolese political activist says the agreements in the talks, even if reached upon, will be difficult to implement.

A Congolese political activist, Mr Etienne Tshisekedi Mpumbwe, has warned that the talks between Kinshasa government and the M23 rebels will not bring peace in Kivu.

Mr Mpumbwe, a nephew to the Congolese opposition leader, Etienne Tshisekedi, also says the Congolese rebels made a mistake by withdrawing from Goma.

“It’s was a blunder for them to withdraw from Goma. These talks are only delaying the process of bringing change in DR Congo,” he said.

Mr Mpumbwe, who visited Daily Monitor offices, is the vice president of Collectif Des Candidats Disrimines (COCADI), an association of presidential candidates who lost election to President Kabila in 2006.

He blames President Kabila for the resurgence of the war in eastern Congo, saying he refused to honour a number of agreements signed between government and CNDP of Laurent Nkunda.
“They will agree and even sign agreements in these talks but implementing the agreement will be a problem,” he said.

rkasasira@ug.nationmedia.com