Since President Ange-Félix Patassé came to power in 1993, the Central African Republic has almost disintegrated. Another attempt to put it back together began on 26 February, at a conference chaired by Mali’s ex-President, General Amadou Toumani Touré. The General is struggling to implement the agreements signed at a Franco-African summit in January 1997, under which about 1,000 troops from Gabon, Burkina Faso, Togo, Chad, Mali and Senegal (with logistic support from France) were meant to disarm the CAR’s warring factions. This force, known as Misab (Mission International de Suivi des Accords de Bangui ) has disarmed about 85 per cent of the soldiers who mutinied against the Patassé regime three times in 1996. Most of these ex-mutineers and their spokesman Captain Anice Saulet are Yakoma from the Presidential Guard of Patassé’s Yakoma predecessor, ex-President André Kolingba." />

Jump to navigation

Vol 42 No 6

Published 23rd March 2001


Congo-Kinshasa

Slow, slow

Western powers like Joseph Kabila but that doesn't mean a quick peace

Peace on the ground is no nearer in Congo-Kinshasa since Laurent-Désiré Kabila's murder on 16 January but the diplomats are smiling more (AC Vol 41 No 4). Son and successor President Joseph Kabila has been favourably received in Western capitals, notably by the 'contact group' of Belgium, Britain, the United States and France. The Western powers are offering Kabila II a trade off: if Kinshasa takes the Lusaka accord seriously - which means talking to United Nations mediator Ketumile Masire and not obstructing the deployment of UN observers - then the West will lean on Rwanda and Uganda to pull their troops back and rein in their sponsored rebel factions. Washington has already started sending 'frank messages' to Kigali and Kampala about their obligations under Lusaka and the diplomatic and other consequences should they flout them. Britain's Foreign Secretary Robin Cook gave Kabila a similar message: 'Comply with Lusaka and we're ready to help you'.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 1190 words.

End of preview

Subscribers: Log in now to read the complete article.

Account Holders: Log in now and use your Account Credit to buy this article. No Credit? Top up your Account now.


If you are logged in, but still cannot access the full text of this article, email customer services or telephone us on +44(0)1638 743633.