Ethnic cohabitation problems led to conflict in Kivu, Tutsi, Mai-Mai said
Posted by African Press International on January 16, 2008
Kinshasa (D R Congo) The difficulties of cohabitation between ethnic groups and communities are at the origin of conflicts and wars in Kivu, the representatives of Tutsi ethnic group and Mai-Mai armed groups attending the Kivu Peace, Security and Development Conference said.
They underscored the difficult cohabitation between Tutsis and other communities in the region, blaming the “hegemonic and expansionist” tendencies of the Tutsis and their exclusion by other communities that consider them as “second class Congolese”. According to them, this is at the origin of the various frustrations.
Information about the massacre perpetrated by all groups was disclosed to participants. The Mai-Mai opposed against the erection of the High-Plateau area into an autonomous territory for fear of violating the Constitution and causing a protracted war, while the Congolese Tutsis have always claimed for the erection of that Southern Kivu area into an autonomous territory.
The Mai-Mai, who are fighting against what they call “the occupants” of their lands, bemoaned the support for the rebels of the National Congress for Peoples Defence (CNDP) by their representatives in Kinshasa.
Besides, they urged all the armed groups to join without delay the mixing centres disseminated across the country and accept, without condition, to be deployed in other provinces than in the northern and southern Kivu.
The various communications underscored that all the parties recognized the Constitution of the country and elected institutions, as well as accept to sign up for the objectives of the conference and give up resorting to weapons if their claims are taken into account.
The Mai-Mai, who are exhorting to the increase in the national army to better protect the national territory, demanded the removal of the embargo on arm supplies against the Democratic Republic of Congo by the international community.
Participants pleaded for the repatriation of all the Congolese refugees so that all the citizens, all tendencies considered, can take part in building the country.
Similarly, the international community was requested to facilitate the repatriation of Rwandan refugees (former FAR and interahamwe) to their country and help hold inter-Rwandan dialogue.
All the parties agreed on a peaceful cohabitation and demanded a sincere and mutual forgiveness as well as a real reconciliation.
The conference, which was initially billed to end on January 14th, was extended until January 17, due to the delay in the actual start of activities following logistic problems and the validation of assignments.
Published by Korir, API/APN africanpress@getmail.no
