Upstanding members of the "Coalition of the Willing"

Tribesmen massacre 1000

From The Times

April 08, 2003

ALMOST 1000 people have been killed in an outburst of ethnic violence in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, United Nations officials have confirmed.

The killings, in the northeastern region of Ituri on Thursday, occurred barely 24 hours after both sides in the country's 40-year war signed a deal to set up a government of national unity. The massacre was the latest incident in a series of bloody inter-tribal feuds between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups. These feuds are threatening to sabotage the Congo's fragile peace process and plunge the country into renewed conflict.

According to the UN mission, which has 4500 peacekeepers in the country, its investigators had been told that 966 people had been massacred by militias armed with machetes and guns.

"The investigating team heard that 966 people were massacred. They identified 20 mass graves and visited 49 seriously injured people in hospitals," a UN spokesman in Kinshasa said.

Most are understood to be Hema tribesmen who were attacked by the Lendu, backed by Ugandan soldiers still in the country. Ugandan forces have denied their soldiers were involved in the killings.

Representatives of the Congo's warring factions had been praised on Wednesday for "taking a step closer to peace" by signing a deal to form the country's first power-sharing government in 40 years. Leaders of the Kinshasa Government, rebel groups, political parties and civil organisations signed the agreement in South Africa, committing them to hold the country's first democratic elections since independence from Belgium in 1960.

Under the terms of the post-war political settlement, President Joseph Kabila will lead a two-year transitional government, assisted by four vice-presidents chosen from the existing Government, the two main rebel groups and the political Opposition.

"Today is a day of unity," the Information Minister, Kikaya Bin Karubi, said. "Today is a day when we put an end to a war that has been tearing our country apart. Today is a day of reconciliation."

Representatives from 10 African states witnessed the signing ceremony, hosted by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. However, the failure of Mr Kabila to attend raised questions about his commitment to the transitional government, which analysts said was already in danger of collapse because of renewed fighting in the north and east.

Congo was plunged into war in 1998, when rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda overthrew the government of the late Laurent Kabila.

Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe sent troops to support the administration, leading to a conflict in which 2 million people have died.

Most foreign troops were withdrawn last year under a 1999 ceasefire agreement. At the same time, a round of blood-letting has begun between the Hema and Lendu tribes.

The country has two years to prepare for elections. Few analysts believe the elections will be held on time. One observer said: "It was easy for them to reach agreement in South Africa but it will be much harder for them to come together at home and make it work."

Some observers fear the latest massacres may prompt renewed intervention by Uganda and Rwanda.

-- The Australian Times