Congo rebels struggle to win popular support

This new rebellion was launched just a year after Kabila himself marched into the capital, Kinshasa, at the head of a rebel army, deposing President Mobutu Sese-Seko from the helm of a country then called Zaire.

"It is true that there has been some reluctance among people in accepting the movement," said one rebel political leader, Ernest Wamba dia Wamba. "But the main issue is that this is the second war in two years and people are tired. They want their lives to be changed fast, and we can't do that."

Uganda and Rwanda became involved in the conflict after accusing Kabila of allowing insurgents to attack their borders. Rwanda also accused the Kabila regime of genocide against ethnic Tutsis living in Congo.

Kabila, too, has outside armies helping him hang on to power, including troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Chad.

Rebel leaders try to play down the tension between their groups.

Victory, though, is a long way off, and rebel officials admit they are suffering from a lack of money. However, last week, they captured Lubao, which is on the road to the vast diamond mines of Mbuji Mayi.

The fall of Mbuji Mayi would be a major achievement for the rebels, giving them a huge economic boost while simultaneously depriving the Kabila government of its most valuable source of revenue.

Rebel commanders also say they will soon begin advancing on the southern city of Lubumbashi, home of the country's cobalt and copper reserves.

If the rebels do win power, the question is whether they will be able to govern any more effectively than Kabila -- and whether peace will finally come to the Congo.

"I think if we continue in the spirit of egoism -- not thinking of anyone else, not thinking of the good of the people -- we're going to live from war to war," said Bishop Louis Nkinga. "If we always have power for power's sake, and not power to help, we'll always have war."