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| DR Congo former PM Adolphe Muzito has asked the government to wage war on neighbouring Rwanda to end militia violence. |
Kinshasa, DRC
A former
DR Congo Prime Minister and opposition leader on Monday called for the
government to wage war on neighbouring Rwanda to end militia violence.
The Democratic Republic of Congo was at the heart
of two bitter regional wars between 1997-2003 involving its neighbours Rwanda
and Uganda.
Kinshasa accused Rwanda and Uganda of trying to
destabilise the DR Congo while its neighbours said militias opposed to their
governments had used DR Congo as a rear base for attacks.
"We have to wage war on Rwanda to restore
peace in our country. Rwanda influences our politics. So does Uganda,"
former Premier Adolphe Muzito said at a press conference in Kinshasa.
"We can only make peace by threatening Rwanda,
by occupying its territory if possible by annexing it," he said.
Two other leaders of Lamuka, the country's main
opposition, Moise Katumbi and Jean-Pierre Bemba, distanced themselves from
Muzito, saying they were "surprised" by his comments.
AFP was unable to immediately reach the government
for reaction.
For a quarter of a century, the eastern part of the
DRC has been plagued by insecurity due to the presence of dozens of local and
foreign armed groups.
Earlier this year five Great Lakes countries -- the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda -- decided
to combine their military operations in the region.
On Saturday, hundreds of Rwandans linked to a
militia in South Kivu province were handed back to Rwandan authorities weeks
after they were captured.
The Congolese army has in recent months claimed
several victories over the militia known as the CNRD -- a group created by
refugees after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda.
Rwanda has welcomed the anti-militia operations in DR
Congo. - AFP
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