Congo Confirms President Is Dead
K I N S H A S A, Congo, Jan. 18, 2001 -- Congo's government has confirmed that President Laurent Kabila is dead, ending two days of secrecy and rumors that began when the leader of the deeply troubled CentralAfrican nation was reportedly gunned down at his palace.
Communications Minister Dominique Sakombi made the announcementin a statement broadcast on state-run television tonight.
"Congo is in mourning," said Sakombi, who sat in a leather chair in front of a smiling photograph of Kabila. "He gave entirely the best years of his life for the freedom of theCongolese people."
Sakombi said Kabila, 59, died at 10 a.m. today, despite reports from numerous foreign officials that he died soon after being wounded in 30 minutes of intense gunfire at his residence Tuesday. The government insisted throughout thatKabila was wounded but alive.
Power Transfers to Kabila's Son
On Wednesday, Cabinet officials thrust Kabila's son, Joseph, into power, naming him temporary head of government to fill the power vacuum that has threatened to throw the vast, war-torn nation into even more turmoil. The younger Kabila, who alreadyheaded the armed forces, has made no public statements.
Initial reports indicated that Joseph Kabila might have been wounded in the shooting. But Western diplomats said on condition of anonymity that they had met with him Wednesday in Kinshasa and that he showed no signs of injury.
Tuesday's shooting and the questions about the elder Kabila's fate added to the disorder in Congo, a mineral-rich nation where a 2½-year civil war has turned into a regional conflict involving troops from a host of African nations.
The U.N. Security Council has urged all sides in Congo's war to respect a shaky 1999 cease-fire and refrain from military action. Before the official confirmation of Kabila's death, heads of state gathering today at a Franco-African summit in nearby Cameroon began their conference with a moment of silence for Kabila.
Details of the Attack
Congolese officials offered no details of Tuesday's attack at the palace, and the circumstances were still murky.
A member of Kabila's security entourage said Tuesday oncondition of anonymity that a bodyguard shot the president in theback and right leg. French and Belgian Foreign Ministry officialsquoted local sources as saying they believed Kabila died of hisinjuries. A number of Kabila's bodyguards were arrested, and thehomes of others were searched Wednesday in the wake of theshooting, the wife of one of the bodyguards said on condition ofanonymity.
Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister Louis Michel said in a radiointerview Wednesday morning that he had received reports thatKabila was killed after a disagreement with some of his armygenerals. He said it was unclear whether it was a general or abodyguard who fired at Kabila. Belgium is Congo's former colonialruler and retains close ties with the nation, formerly calledZaire.
Kabila had been fighting a civil war since August 1998, whenrebel forces backed by his former allies, Rwanda and Uganda, turnedagainst him. In the war's early stages, the rebels reached theoutskirts of Kinshasa before being turned back by Kabila's army,which is now supported by Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
But Kabila's hold over the army had grown increasingly tenuousin recent months, with some troops reportedly threatening to revoltover pay demands. Young recruits make as little as $10 per month.
Streets Return to Life
Residents of the capital returned to the streets today forthe first time since the shooting and traders arrived from nearbyvillages with their goods, but the city remained on edge. Manymarkets stayed closed because their administrators didn't turn up.Stores and businesses opened late, and most parents kept theirchildren out of school.
Soldiers deployed throughout the city in the late afternoon,sending people rushing home. But there were no immediate reports ofunrest.
A rebel spokesman said the attack on Kabila caught the country'srebel forces by surprise.
"We didn't plan this. But we will not be ready to cooperatewith whoever replaces Kabila unless the government is ready to endthe war and talk to us," Maj. Siatilo Ngizo said.
Kabila came to power in May 1997 following a Uganda- andRwanda-sponsored rebellion against the late dictator Mobutu SeseSeko. The world community initially welcomed him, and many hoped hewould be an improvement over Mobutu's decades-long rule, which leftthe nation in ruins.
But Kabila quickly alienated himself: He invited close friendsand relatives into government, angered investors and obstructed aU.N. inquiry into reports that his fighters slaughtered thousandsof Hutu refugees from neighboring Rwanda.