24 August 2001
President Joseph Kabila will be visiting South Africa at the invitation of President Mbeki from 29-30 August 2001 for a working visit prior to attending the World Conference Against Racism and Xenophobia.
President Thabo Mbeki will be meeting with President Kabila on 29 August 2001 to discuss mutual areas of interest/co-operation between their two countries, including the implementation of the Lusaka Cease-fire Agreement, the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, the MONUC peacekeeping operation and related aspects aimed at bringing peace and democracy to the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The current civil war in the DRC broke out on 2 August 1998, with Zimbabwean, Angolan and Namibian troops supporting the DRC government and Rwandan and Ugandan forces backing up the armed rebel movements.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Aziz Pahad said that the "the conflict impacts not only on SADC's reconstruction and development programme but also on the African reconstruction and development programme." SADC has been actively involved in bringing an end to the conflict. Despite many difficulties, its initiatives resulted in the Lusaka Cease-fire Agreement being signed during July and August 1999 by all the belligerents, including six Heads of State. The preparatory meeting for the Inter-Congolese Dialogue started on 20 August 2001 in Gaborone and will conclude on 24 August 2001. The meeting is discussing the venue, agenda, date and rules of procedure for the dialogue. Mr Pahad added that this is a very important development and opens up real possibilities for a long term solution.
At the meeting the DRC Government is represented by a thirteen-member delegation led by Mr Leonard She Okitundu, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The MLC sent 13 delegates led by its leader Jean-pierre Bemba while Dr Adolphe Onusumba will lead a group of 13 members representing the RCD-Goma. Two members are representing the RCD-Kisangani while two members also represent the RCD-ML. The civil society is represented by a group of 14 members.
President Festus Mogae of Botswana opened the meeting on 20 August 2001 in a ceremony that was also attended by President Joseph Kabila and President Chiluba.
President Kabila will, inter alia, be accompanied by the DRC cabinet ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs, Mining, Energy, Trade & Industry, Agriculture, Telecommunications, and Transport, as well as the Governor of the Central Bank of the DRC. The DRC ministerial delegation will utilise the present visit to interact with their South African counterparts regarding area of co-operation in the economic and infrastructural reconstruction of the DRC.
The DRC is the third largest country in Africa and shares borders with nine other states. It has an enormous wealth in natural resources, both mineral (cobalt, copper, gold, diamonds, manganese and crude oil) and non-mineral resources. Approximately one third of the country is tropical rainforest, and the Congo River, one of the five longest rivers in the world, has the most hydro-electrical potential of any river in Africa with the potential of providing power to the whole African continent. Only three percent of the DRC's arable land is currently being cultivated, and the DRC thus has vast agricultural potential. A very important area in which economic co-operation could take place, is that of mining.
South Africa's exports to the DRC last year amounted to R875 667 000 and the imports totalled R9 579 000. In 2000, the DRC ranked at number 38 in terms of South Africa's global export markets, while it ranked 7th in terms of our SADC exports. In terms of imports the DRC ranked 46th in global terms and 8th among SADC countries in trade with South Africa.
The South African Department of Trade & Industry, together with Trade and Investment South Africa (TISA), is arranging a business and investment forum meeting between the DRC delegation and the South African business sector on 30 August 2001, which will also be attended by President Joseph Kabila. Peace and stability in the DRC will enable it to play a crucial role in the implementation of the New African Initiative.
It is understood that President Kabila will also be meeting with the Congolese community resident in South Africa in the course of his visit.
After the conclusion of his working visit, President Kabila will be attending the World Conference against Racism and Xenophobia.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs