DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: REBELS SAY THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN THE LAST KEY DEFENCE POINT ON THE WAY TO KINSHASA

Record ID: 590612

  • Title: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: REBELS SAY THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN THE LAST KEY DEFENCE POINT ON THE WAY TO KINSHASA
  • Date: 20th August 1998
  • Summary: KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (AUGUST 20 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV STREET SCENES IN KINSHASA (2 SHOTS) 0.10 2. SV GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS TOURING TOWN 0.16 3. LV STREET SCENE 0.20 4. LV GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS TOURING TOWN 0.25 5. SV MARKET, WOMAN SELLING BREAD 0.31 6. CU BREAD/SV PEOPLE WITH BREAD (3 SHOTS) 0.44 7. SLV/CU PEOPLE SELLING FOOD (5 SHOTS) 1.05 8. SLV WOMAN CARRYING FLOUR 1.11 9. CU/SV PEOPLE CHANGING MONEY (2 SHOTS) 1.19 10. TV MAN WITH FOOD 1.23 11. LV/SLV STREEET SCENES (2 SHOTS) 1.34 12. SV STALLS WITH FOOD 1.38 13. SLV PEOPLE WALKING ACROSS THE STREET 1.45 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th September 1998 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KINSHASA, CONGO
  • City:
  • Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
  • Reuters ID: LVA6TS3JI2JVFRFT6B6A5OK4EP7K
  • Story Text: Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have said that they had taken the last key defence point on the way to Kinshasa.However, the claims could not be independently verified, and the government denied the reports as people in the capital went about their business as usual.

    Rebel forces, which control many areas of the east and west, said they had overrun the government stronghold of Mbanza Ngungu, 120 km (75 miles) southwest of Kinshasa, the last strategic defensive point on the road to the capital.

    "We took Mbanza Ngungu at 8 p.m.(1800 GMT) last night.We are consolidating our positions there.We are sending in more troops and equipment," Wamba dia Wamba, leader of the rebel Congolese Democratic Coalition, told Reuters by telephone from his eastern headquarters on Thursday (August 20).

    Government Information Minister Didier Mumengi rejected the rebel claims as lies.

    Using a classic carrot-and-stick approach, the rebels said they were willing to negotiate with Kabila to end the fighting but warned Mugabe to keep out of the conflict.Angola has also offered military support for Kabila.

    On the streets of Kinshasa on Thursday (August 20) people appeared to be going about their business as usual - some of them buying supplies as the fighting allegedly neared closer to the capital.

    Prices have increased threefold over the last few days as the rebels approach the city.

    Minister of information, Didier Mumengi, said peace talks were essential, saying they should sit round the table with Uganda and Rwanda to talk about peace in the Great Lake region.

    South African President Nelson Mandela on Thursday called a summit of regional leaders to end the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Mandela, a leading dove in the conflict in the former Zaire, offered an olive branch to arch hawk, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, saying he wanted him to attend the meeting.

    The two have publicly fallen out over how to end the fighting between Rwandan-backed Tutsi rebels and troops loyal to President Laurent Kabila, with Mandela ruling out military intervention and Mugabe insisting on it.


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