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A Proposal for Long Term and Sustainable Peace Process in the DRC
by the Global Pan African Movement
Introduction
As the complex war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to serve as a causal and\or exacerbating catalyst for political and economic crises on both a regional and sub-regional level, with long term implications throughout Africa, the need for a holistic peace process is of utmost importance. Diplomatic efforts in Africa and outside of Africa have generated a consensus on the priority to end the shooting, however it appears that the approaches to a sustainable peace process after the guns are silenced are inadequate to mutually addressing and reconciling the myriad of internal and external interests and concerns. The following proposal is offered for discussion by all concerned parties interested in peace.THe points of departure are two: 1. That all parties must recognize and respect that the social, political and economic interests of the Congolese people must be placed above all other issues and interests; and 2. Each step in the following proposal must be conceptualized as being linked to the other, in order for the series of steps to represent a sustainable process that could be implemented to achieve the necessary and sufficient conditions for long term peace and stability.
1. A cease fire agreement between all combatants involved in the conflict in the DRC ending all hostile movements and actions.
2. The immediate initiating of direct political talks between the leaders of the current Government of the DRC and the elected leadership of the RCD. The 1st purpose of such talks would be to make arrangements for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Congolese territory. The 2nd purpose of the talks is to develop a process for forming a government of national unity. That process should begin with the reconvening of the National Conference which should be empowered to decide on the transition process and insitutions. The voices of all the people of the Congo, including armed and unarmed opposition forces, must be heard effectively in the National Conference process.
3. The withdrawal of all foreign troops from Congolese territory.
4. The installation of a multinational African peace keeping force to ensure separation of all combatants and maintain Congolese territorial integrity until a Congolese defence force\system is put in place.
5. Normalization of Congolese national political processes,
including the unbanning of political parties and initiating
the National Conference process.
6. Arrest and prosecution of Interhamwe and ex-FAR elements
in the DRC and the removal of all non Congolese military
forces using Congolese territory as a base for carrying
out destabilizing acts of aggression against regional
neighbors.
7. Formation of an elected government of national unity that is the end result of the National Conference process and the formation of a truly national(non ethnic or regional) army of the DRC.
8. The formation of a national consensus based vision and program for socioeconomic reconstruction involving SADC and the Great Lakes regions as a basis for creating long term self sustainable conditions for peace, stability and reconstruction. The areas that must be included are: Regional consultation and agreement on citizenship rights of peoples, democratisation, borders, refugees, internally displaced persons, migration, and regional economic development, social progress and sustainable natuaral resource use.
December 10, 1998
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[ENDS]
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 11:39:15 +0100 Subject: DRC: Pan African Movement Proposal on Sustainable Peace 1998.12.14 From: irin@ocha.unon.org (irin@ocha.unon.org)