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Zairian rebel leader to meet Mandela
April 16, 1997
Web posted at: 12:23 p.m. EDT (1623 GMT)CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNN) -- Zairian rebel leader Laurent Kabila arrived in South Africa on Wednesday for a whirlwind round of talks aimed at easing his country's political crisis.
Kabila was to meet with U.N. special envoy Mohamed Sahnoun and South African President Nelson Mandela, who were believed to be trying to broker a cease-fire. It was unclear whether he also would talk directly with Zairian government representatives.
The rebel leader departed for Cape Town at 11:40 a.m. (0940 GMT) after a two-day visit to Zaire's second largest city, Lubumbashi, to mark his rebels' capture of the mineral-rich Shaba province.
"There will be no cease-fire until Mobutu relinquishes power," he said.
-- Laurent Kabila
Speaking to reporters from the Lubumbashi airport, Kabila again stressed that nothing would halt his drive to oust Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko.
"There will be no cease-fire until Mobutu relinquishes power," he said.
Rebels have captured about half of the nation since October and have urged Mobutu to resign or go into exile. Asked if he expected to meet with Mobutu in South Africa, Kabila responded, "It is not important for me, who is he?"
Regional analysts said the South African talks would focus on making arrangements for a face-to-face meeting between Kabila and Mobutu. Mobutu, who has ruled Zaire for nearly 32 years, has indicated he is willing to meet with Kabila.
Without a cease-fire in place, Kabila noted that the rebels' next objective is "Kinshasa and everybody knows it." He said his forces planned to be in the Zairian capital in three weeks.
Also Wednesday:
U.N. officials said they would start Friday with an airlift of 100,000 Rwandan refugees from the Zairian jungle. About 80 children will be the first to be flown to the eastern city of Goma, and then across the border into Rwanda, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman Paul Stromberg said.
The airlift will be the biggest in history of U.N. operations in Africa.
Zaire's information director, Kin-Kiey Mulumba, said Tuesday the country was launching an international search for ousted Prime Minister Leon Kengo wa Dondo, accused by the government of stealing millions of dollars from state funds. Mulumba said the former premier could face treason charges if found. Kengo, removed as the head of government three weeks ago by a parliamentary vote, was last seen Saturday. Newspapers have reported he fled the country.
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- Zairian rebel leader encounters some dissent - April 15, 1997
- Mobutu's opponents shut down Zaire's capital - April 14, 1997
- Zairian rebels renew offensive - April 13, 1997
- Mobutu says he's willing to meet with rebels - April 12, 1997
- U.N. tests evacuation plan in Zaire - April 11, 1997
- Zaire's Mobutu confers with new prime minister - April 10, 1997
- Mobutu fires Zairian prime minister - April 9, 1997
- Malnutrition takes deadly toll on Zaire refugees - April 9, 1997
- U.N. report: Zairian rebels massacred refugees - April 8, 1997
- Zaire soldiers use tear gas, batons to end march - April 7, 1997
- The roots of Zaire's unrest - April 2, 1997
Related sites:
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- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- Crisis in Central Africa
- Official web site of Zaire
- Zaire Watch
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