Mbeki: DRC will rise from ashes
2006-07-28 18:00
Cape Town - The government is confident the elections this weekend in the strife-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will put it back on the high road towards national reconciliation and development, said South African President Thabo Mbeki on Friday.
In his weekly newsletter on the ANC Today website, published two days ahead of the DRC's first democratic elections in more than 46 years.
Mbeki said the polls were "of historic importance to the future of Africa".
"At this critical time, the people of South Africa wish the sister people of the DRC success as they vote on July 30.
"We... urge all Congolese to work together to ensure that the elections take place in conditions of peace and calm throughout the country.
"This will allow the Congolese people to exercise their absolute right to select a government of their choice."
Mbeki's appeal is set against a background of mounting violence in the run-up to elections in Africa's third-largest country.
Four killed at a rally
On Thursday, four people, including three policemen, were killed at a rally in the DRC capital Kinshasa, when security forces clashed with stone-throwing supporters of one of the country's four vice-presidents, Jean-Pierre Bemba.
Bemba is a leading rival in Sunday's poll to existing DRC head of state Joseph Kabila.
In his letter, Mbeki said "turning the (DRC) around" was vital for Africa.
Citing a United Nations' study, he said its vast mineral wealth included one third of the world's cobalt reserves, 10% of its copper, and diamonds, gold, oil, silver, uranium and zinc.
"Its river system could power the entire continent, and the country contains 50% of Africa's natural forests.
"And yet the DRC is one of the poorest countries, ranked 167 out of 177 in the 2005 United Nations development programme's human development index," said Mbeki.
From 1998 to 2003, the DRC was wracked by the so-called Second Congo War, the world's deadliest conflict since World War 2, and the biggest war between countries in Africa's history.
It directly involved nine African nations and about 20 armed groups, resulted in the deaths of about 3.8 million people, and displaced millions more.
Back on the high road towards healing
Mbeki said he was certain the existing leadership "will not disappoint the masses they lead".
South Africa had worked very closely with the election structures of the DRC to prepare for Sunday's elections.
"We are confident that... elections will convey the firm message to the masses of the Congolese people that, once again, they are back on the high road towards the healing of their wounds."
The DRC's first democratic elections led to the installation of Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister in June 1960. Six months later he was murdered.
- SAPA