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Zaire soldiers use tear gas, batons to end march
April 7, 1997
Web posted at: 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT)Latest developments
KINSHASA, Zaire (CNN) -- Thousands of protesters supporting new Prime Minister Etienne Tshisekedi rallied Monday in Zaire's capital, but troops supporting President Mobutu Sese Seko violently dispersed the crowds.
Troops drove armored vehicles into the crowd, firing tear gas canisters and beating people with whips and batons. Many frightened protesters, who had begun marching to Zaire's parliament to show support for Tshisekedi, fled into the fields.
It was the latest in a series of protests from supporters of Tshisekedi, an opposition figure who faces ouster less than a week after taking office. Most of the protests have been similarly dispersed by the Zairian army.
Mobutu chose Tshisekedi last week after Prime Minister Kengo wa Dondo accepted a no-confidence vote against him.
Tshisekedi, who was selected to be prime minister in 1992 by a national conference, has always claimed that he was the country's only legitimate prime minister; his selection was originally opposed by Mobutu, who chose a succession of other people to hold the post.
Tshisekedi's nomination by Mobutu was, some political observers say, a move by Mobutu to divide the opposition against him and end the country's six-month-old civil war. Fighting to unseat the government has raged in Zaire since last fall, when rebel leader Laurent Kabila began pushing for Mobutu to resign.
Claiming that Mobutu was responsible for widespread government corruption and thus widespread poverty throughout Zaire, Kabila succeeded in rallying forces that have so far taken control of a third of the country. Kabila said Monday that he hopes his forces will take Kinshasa, the capital, by June.
Some rebels switch allegiance
In one Zairian city, Lubumbashi, there were reports Monday that Mobutu's army was turning against him. Sergeant Kafua Otamba said his 21st Brigade had switched loyalties to Kabila, whose forces began closing in on Lubumbashi on Monday.
Townspeople cheered the government soldiers, who were sporting white headbands to symbolize their change in loyalties. "We have suffered with these soldiers. We are very proud of them (deciding to change sides)," said Apollinaire Kasongo, a teacher.
Rebel leader: PM a 'sellout'
However, if Mobutu's aim was to divide his opposition and improve his odds in promised national elections, some say he has succeeded. Immediately after taking office, Tshisekedi angered many of those within the government who had supported him by scrapping the constitution and firing the parliament.
And rebel leader Kabila, who had also supported the leader long denied his seat, called Tshisekedi a "sellout" for agreeing to work alongside Mobutu. He also rejected Tshisekedi's offer of Cabinet seats in the new government.
Meanwhile in South Africa, representatives of Zaire's warring factions resumed their preliminary peace talks Monday morning.
Zaire Embassy spokesman Jean-Nestor Bokumbe said a "friendly" and "fraternal atmosphere" had been established at the talks, which opened Saturday at the government Union Buildings in Pretoria and continued late Sunday before adjourning.
However, Bokumbe cautioned against expectations of a speedy resolution to the conflict.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Zaire refugee airlift faces obstacles - April 6, 1997
- Zairian prime minister offers to share power - April 3, 1997
- The roots of Zaire's unrest - April 2, 1997
- Zaire rebels: New prime minister changes nothing - April 2, 1997
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