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Belgium Sends Paratroopers to Congo, Gabon for Evacuation
Belgium has sent 10 paratroopers to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to help guard its embassy in Kinshasa, local press said Thursday.
A second batch of 25 Belgian paratroopers are to leave for Gabon, a neighboring country of the DRC, later Thursday to prepare for evacuating Belgian nationals living in the mine-rich African country.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe authorities have confirmed the death of DRC President Laurent Kabila who was shot during a reported coup attempt on Tuesday. He was seriously wounded and died en route to Zimbabwe for treatment, according to reports.
Currently, the situation in Kinshasa remains stable. Power in the DRC, the former Belgium's colony, is now said to be in the hands of Kabila's son Joseph Kabila.
Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said Wednesday that Belgium would send two C-130 military cargo planes to Gaon's capital, Libreville, "in case they are needed to evacuate Belgians " from the Central African nation.
"These measures are only preparatory," Verhofstadt said after meeting with Defense Minister Andre Flahaut and Foreign Minister Louis Michel. "For the moment, there is no reason to start an evacuation operation."
The Belgian authorities had planned to send the cargo planes to Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of the Congo, located across the river from the former Belgian Congo. But they shifted the destination to Gabon because of concern over the security situation in Brazzaville.
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