SA boost for DRC democracy
Matome Sebelebele
3 May 2005
South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have consolidated their political and economic cooperation with a number of new agreements.
According to the deal, South Africa will help the Congolose set up and improve their police, public service, revenue and custom services, as part of an attempt to return the country to good governance and democracy after years of bloody conflict.
Speaking after the South Africa-DRC Binational Commission, President Thabo Mbeki and his DRC counterpart Joseph Kabila reaffirmed their commitment to forthcoming DRC elections, the first in 40 years. The leaders stressed that the elections were "on track", but could not say whether they would be held in June as scheduled.
There is concern that the DRC will not be able to meet its election deadline because of legislative, logistical and other challenges. The elections are a key part of a 2003 peace deal to end the five-year war in the mineral-rich country.
The DRC has not held elections since 1965.
"We are still on track. Elections will definitely be organised," said Kabila.
South Africa, a mediator in the peace deal that set up a power-sharing transitional authority, is helping the DRC prepare for both the elections and the reunification of the country.
Trade between the countries has grown significantly in the past six years. Exports to the DRC grew from about R1-billion in 1998 to R1.3-billion in 2004, while DRC imports to South Africa rose from R25-million in 1998 to R1.3-billion last year.
South African companies have heavily invested in the DRC's mining, telecommunication and construction sectors.
Kabila expressed hope that "permanent structures" will be set up to ensure agreements between the two countries - particularly in terms of economic cooperation - are implemented.
Source: BuaNews
| 
