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A le
vel of comfort enjoyed by parties in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) will pave way for a smooth peace transition in the
strife-torn central African country, says President Thabo
Mbeki’s legal adviser Mojanku Gumbi.
Addressing journalists in Pretoria today, Advocate Gumbi said the
time parties took negotiating with each other played an imperative
role in instilling trust amongst them.
Gumbi’s assertions follow the swearing in last week, of a new
look administration in the DRC consisting of three vice presidents
and ministers from the government, rebel groups and opposition
movements.
The new government follows the signing in South Africa last year,
of a landmark agreement, which paved way for the setting up of a
transitional government there.
“We really think that the time that they took negotiating
with each other in South Africa has really helped to lay a basis
for them to be quite comfortable with each other," she said, adding
that the move would eliminate potential glitches.
Though she added that there were challenges that would confront the
peace process in the mineral rich country, "it is quite clear that
they have found a level of comfort with each other”.
Gumbi said the refusal by some of the new DRC ministers to take the
oath during inauguration did not imply there would be a derail in
the transition process since the agreement did not compel ministers
to undergo such process.
“Because the taking of the oath by ministers is not a
constitutional requirement, the government could still continue
with its work…and President (Joseph) Kabila indicated his
wishes to proceed with the work of government whether others took
the oath or not,’ she said.
She said South Africa and the DRC were moving towards a new
relationship because the latter had a new, inclusive government in
place, and South would cooperate with them in the design of their
government programmes.
On the volatile Ituri region in the Bunia city, Adv Gumbi said the
area was still controlled by the French troops under the auspices
of the United Nations (UN).
“But it would be easy for them (DRC government) to move in
now that they have been set up and it would be easier to have that
situation under their control because it’s people who were
allies with one or other of the parties which are now in
government,” she said.
Leaders of the movement had formally declared the rebellion over,
she affirmed. –BuaNews.
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