Kabila plays down fears of DR Congo returning to civil war

BRUSSELS – Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila on Friday downplayed fears of a return to civil war after elections next year, saying the country was now stable enough to quell any unrest.

Kabila, who presides over a transitional government in the violence-scarred country, declined to say whether he would remain in politics after the June 2006 polls. “That will depend on the Congolese people.I will certainly consult the population,” he told the state RTBF radio station in Belgium, his country’s former colonial ruler.The DRC is currently engaged in a UN-supervised transition towards its first democratic election in 40 years, following years of war that have ravaged the resource-rich but poverty-stricken central African country.Asked about the risk of a return to civil war, Kabila said: “Who would take up arms again once the people have decided their fate? “Of course a lot of parties or political leaders will find themselves in difficulties.But I don’t think that will lead (them) to resort to arms again,” he added.”We will have a national army which will be capable of dissuading them,” he said.He noted that there were still some “armed gangs” in Katanga, in the southeast, and in the eastern Kivu provinces, but said they were “in difficulty thanks to military operations which are underway.”By the time of the elections we will have the 18 brigades foreseen by our strategic plan.”- Nampa-AFP”That will depend on the Congolese people.I will certainly consult the population,” he told the state RTBF radio station in Belgium, his country’s former colonial ruler.The DRC is currently engaged in a UN-supervised transition towards its first democratic election in 40 years, following years of war that have ravaged the resource-rich but poverty-stricken central African country.Asked about the risk of a return to civil war, Kabila said: “Who would take up arms again once the people have decided their fate? “Of course a lot of parties or political leaders will find themselves in difficulties.But I don’t think that will lead (them) to resort to arms again,” he added.”We will have a national army which will be capable of dissuading them,” he said.He noted that there were still some “armed gangs” in Katanga, in the southeast, and in the eastern Kivu provinces, but said they were “in difficulty thanks to military operations which are underway.”By the time of the elections we will have the 18 brigades foreseen by our strategic plan.”- Nampa-AFP