Congolese Parties Reach Agreement on Power Sharing Issues

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, October 30, 2002

Congolese Parties Reach Agreement on Power Sharing Issues

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A ground breaking pact in principle on an interim rule to guide the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to democracy was reached on Tuesday, South African envoy Sisa Ngombane said in Pretoria.

Describing this as a breakthrough, Ngombane was quoted by the South African Press Association as saying "It is the first time that the parties agree on a transitional arrangement. What remainsnow, is to refine the details."

The consensus was achieved on the fourth day of talks in Pretoria between the DRC government and two armed rebel groups -- the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) and the Congo Liberation Movement (MLC).

Ngombane, South Africa's ambassador to the DRC, said the formula for a transitional government provided for DRC President Joseph Kabila to remain the head of a transitional government, with four vice-presidents.

These will be occupied by the government, the RCD, the MLC, anda representative of the non-armed opposition parties in the DRC.

Ngombane said basic understanding had been reached about the job description of the five posts.

The president would be the overall head, while the four vice-presidents would each head a commission.

"One of the outstanding details is how ministerial portfolios should be allocated," Ngombane said.

The talks in Pretoria were convened by special United Nations envoy Moustapha Niasse and South African President Thabo Mbeki.

South Africa put forward the power-sharing proposal after the DRC government and the MLC struck a deal without the RCD at the previous round of peace negotiations at Sun City in North West earlier this year.

Niasse voiced "cautious optimism" on Monday that a transitionalgovernment could be installed in the DRC by January next year.

It is hoped this will bring an end to four years of violence and conflict in the central African country. At its height, the war embroiled seven African nations.

Rebel groups took up arms against the DRC government in 1998, with the support of Rwanda and Uganda. Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe sent in troops to back the government. Chad also briefly supportedthe Kinshasa regime.

Most of the foreign troops have pulled out, but sporadic clashes between the internal belligerents have continued.

Ngombane said the non-armed political opposition parties would join the talks on Wednesday, although they had already agreed in principle to the power-sharing formula.

Progress in the Pretoria deliberations would be evaluated by Mbeki, and President Joseph Kabila of the DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda at the end of the week, Niasse said on Monday.

The leaders are to meet in Pretoria on Friday to review events since the signing of an accord in July that provided, among others,for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the DRC.

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