President Joseph Kabila has reassured the Congolese people, at a press conference held Saturday in Kinshasa, that foreign troops involved in military operations conducted jointly with the FARDC ( Democratic Republic of Congo Armed Forces) in North Kivu and in the Eastern province will return to their respective countries in a timely manner.
The Congolese Head of State has confirmed that in fifteen (15) days, the Rwandese Intelligence Units and the FARDC will carry out the operations assessement simultaneously in North Kivu against Rwandan Hutu refugees made up of former Rwandan Armed Forces, Interahamwe and democratic for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
We have not gone over the time yet, it is February,” was he firm, thinking that what matters is the result on the field. He was also pleased to announce that since the beginning of the operations in the province of North Kivu, the Congolese government has recovered all the positions formerly occupied by the CNDP (National Committee for the people’s defence). “Tomorrow it will be the opening of the frontier station of Budagana,” he said.
With regard to joint military operations conducted in Eastern Province by the FARDC, the Ugandan army and the units of the southern Sudanese’s army, President Joseph Kabila Kabange admitted that it will end on 13 February 2009.
While welcoming the results on the ground that he described as positive, the Congolese Head of State has indicated that the situation is under control in the Eastern Province since the elements of the Lord’s Resistance Army ( LRA) led by Joseph Kony are dispersed. He also allayed the concerns of others regarding compliance by the Rwandan government commitments. “We will do everything to ensure that these commitments are respected,” he said.
The extradition process of former General Laurent Nkunda is on
In response to the question whether the extradition of General Nkunda from Rwanda to the DRC is scheduled, the Head of State said that “the answer is yes,” adding that “it is a political and diplomatic process on which we are working on. ” On this occasion he confirmed the arrest of Laurent Nkunda, according to information given by the Rwandan authorities, reacting to the concern of the media.
President Kabila has refuted allegations that the arrest of Laurent Nkunda would be consecutive to haggling between Kigali and Kinshasa. “This is the result of an agreement signed between the two countries,” he explained, saying that the problems posed by the CNDP can not be solved without finding solutions to the existence of the FDLR.
Regarding the general Ntaganda Bosco from the CNDP, who is under a mandate of the International Criminal Court, the Congolese Head of State has favored lifting the option to restore peace, security and stability throughout the province of North Kivu. He dismissed for the moment any idea contrary that could jeopardize the position of the Government of the Republic. “There is not one country in the world that has cooperated with the ICC as the DRC,” he said.
The return of peace in North Kivu is conditioned to the beheading of all militias in Kivu.
Joseph Kabila has said that the return of peace in the North and South Kivu is conditioned to the “decapitation of all militias” operating in this part of the country, despite the arrest of former General Laurent Nkunda .
“It’s almost every tribe in North and South Kivu, that has a militia which the wire-pullers are either on site or in Kinshasa,” he revealed. In the same vein, he promised to take effective measures to ensure that Rwandan Hutu refugees who are hunted in Kivu can not be released into the forests of Maniema, Province Orientale, Ecuador, or elsewhere.
Responding to a concern of the press relating to the quality of the person who represented the Congolese government in the agreement in Goma between Rwanda and the DRC, the Head of State said that this process had been initiated before the advent of the current Chief of General Staff of the FARDC by the inspector general of the Congolese National Police, John Numbi. It is the latter that has been designated to sign this agreement.
Not to exploit common resources by Rwanda and DRC
In order to illuminate the lantern of others, President Joseph Kabila has said loud and clear that there is no common wealth to be exploited by Rwanda and the DRC, with the exception of the gas of Lake Kivu. “There is gas in Lake Kivu and Rwanda, for its part, has already been exploiting it” he assured, adding that “Even with Uganda, the joint exploitation of oil is not yet effective on Lake Albert.” “There is no common wealth to be exploited between Rwanda and the DRC,” he insisted.
The Head of State refuses for the moment to take stock of 5 yards
The Congolese Head of State has refused to make time to review the programs of 5 yards of the Republic that he initiated, whereas it is therefore very anxious that the work in progress has not yet reached cruising speed.
“I will not review at this stage, work is underway across the country,” he said, before adding: “I will give it by March or April.” Regarding with the financial crisis and global economy, the Head of State felt the need to diversify the economy since the prices of raw materials are plummeting. He has opted for the mechanization of agriculture to achieve food self-sufficiency while importing less and exporting more. In this context, it was considered useful and necessary supervision of youth in large cities such as Kinshasa, in the direction of agricultural work in order to solve at least some unemployment.
Source
http://www.afriquechos.ch/spip.php?article3866
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