DRC 'fragile but promising'
Sello Tang
24 August 2006
The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is "fragile but promising" following a truce signed between rival groups on Tuesday, says South Africa's ambassador to the DRC, Sisa Ngombane.
Fighting between loyalists of presidential candidates Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba, that rocked the country for three days following Sunday's announcement of the provisional election results, has now ended.
"A ceasefire was entered into yesterday and I am told that the situation is now calm there," Ngombane said.
Kabila led the preliminary results with 44.7% of the vote, followed by Bemba with 20.1%.
Because neither candidate was able to claim an absolute majority, the people of the DRC will go the polls again on 29 October.
The country's electoral law stipulates that a presidential run-off is necessary in the event that no candidate claims enough votes to secure victory in the first round of voting.
Peacekeeping
"There are discussions at the moment among peacekeeping force stakeholders as to how to increase security forces in the affected areas," Ngomane said, adding that discussions would also touch on the issue of disarmament.
He added that disarmament should be addressed before the run-off election, noting that the United Nations "must take the lead in this process".
"The UN must also provide protection for both candidates and this must be done in line with agreed international standards of protection and security," he said.
Ngomane explained that the local police force had already been beefed up in areas considered to be the stronghold camps of both Kabila and Bemba, and also in the capital, Kinshasa.
Integration
He warned of further conflict if the incoming government, after the run-off, did not address the question of military integration with urgency.
"The UN should also be in
charge of a transparent process to integrate the remaining former rebel group members in the army," Ngomane said.
He confirmed that the South African government would help again with logistical and other resources to ensure a smooth process in the run-off elections.
Source: BuaNews
| 
