DRC makes 2009 peace promise

2009-01-01 19:05

Kinshasa - Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila vowed to bring peace to his war-ravaged country before the end of 2009 in a rare televised address to the nation.

"Our objectives for 2009 will be and remain those given to the government when it was formed: first and foremost is the consolidation of peace and security, in particular in the east of the country," Kabila said as the New Year was about to dawn.

"Our determination is undeniable and all options will be looked at to this effect," the Congolese president said.

Kabila has rarely spoken out in public since fighting began between the army and rebels led by Tutsi general Laurent Nkunda at the end of August.

Talks opened between the government and the rebels earlier in December in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. Since then, fighting between the two sides has subsided and they are set to meet for another round of talks on January 7.

"For our country, as well as the world, the past year has been difficult," Kabila said.

"It has shown that peace is only possible with the full, sincere cooperation of everybody involved and that, without good faith, even the best agreements are rendered useless," he added.

Kabila also launched a stinging attack on Ugandan rebel group the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), describing them as "enemies of peace".

The LRA has been accused by the UN and the Congolese government of killing civilians in the north east of the country. More than 400 people have died in the isolated Orientale region of the country since Christmas.

- AFP