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Zimbabwean, Congolese Presidents Urge Troops Withdrawal From Congo
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his visiting counterpart of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Joseph Kabila Tuesday urged Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi to withdraw all their troops from the DRC to pave the way for a lasting peace in the region.
"In the past they told us that they will withdraw. They have said that they will withdraw from Kisangani but we still find them there. We want to see them withdraw from Congo not from point A and point B," Kabila told a press conference held here during his two-day Zimbabwean tour.
"This is now time for Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi to undertake an exercise of introspection and ask themselves if what they did was justified and right and they should conclude that they should withdraw from Congo," said Mugabe on the same occasion.
"They should not wait to withdraw according to the phases outlined in the peace accord but should do it now," said Mugabe, whose country has been fighting, along with Angola and Namibia, for the DRC government, against the rebels backed by Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.
Rwanda and Uganda have indicated that they will start withdrawing their troops from the DRC soon, according to reports.
The two presidents also expressed their optimism that the Lusaka Peace Agreement will finally bear fruit if all the warring parties continue to abide by it.
"I was glad to hear that except for one or two incidents, the situation is now calm. I hope that calm will continue and translate itself to an end of the invasion and the realization of peace," said Mugabe.
Kabila left here for home later Tuesday after concluding his two-day state visit to Zimbabwe, one of his important allies.
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