AFRICA/DR CONGO - On the eve of the referendum President Kabila says he is moving his office to Bukavu in eastern Congo to promote stability in that part of the country where war is still a threat

Bukavu (Fides Service)- “This is a positive signal and it will give the people in the east of the country new hope although prudence is necessary” say local sources in Bukavu the main town in the south Kivu region of Democratic Republic of Congo where yesterday 16 December President Joseph Kabila announced his decision to move his office from the capital Kinshasa to Bukavu.
“Today I am moving my headquarters and offices from Kinshasa here to Bukavu to help the return of a lasting peace in the east and the rest of the country” the President said in a radio message in Swahili used in eastern Congo.
“The president’s words certainly were an encouragement for the people here but it should be remembered that many promises have been made and then broken. People are wondering why the move was so sudden and so soon: it is not easy to move a presidency headquarters in such short time” local sources said.
“However the people of Bukavu gave the President a warm welcome. Over 160,000 people turned out to see him arrive with a large military contingent to replace local soldiers moved elsewhere. In theory the arrival of troops led by the head of state should improve security in Bukavu. But on the other hand there are many armed groups in this area not at all interested in stability and they might easily attempt at President’s life. If he were really to make Bukavu his headquarters it might create more problems than advantages”.
Tomorrow 18 December Congo faces an important event, a referendum on a new draft Constitution. In his address yesterday Kabila asked the people to approve the new Constitution. If approved the Constitution will open the way for general elections (see Fides 15 December 2005) and end a long process of transition started in December 2002 with a peace agreement signed in Pretoria, South Africa.
About 25 million eligible voters are called to vote at one of 40,000 ballot centres scattered over this vast country the size of western Europe. To ensure an orderly vote, over 42,000 policemen have been mobilised.
The local Catholic community played an essential part in spreading awareness of the importance of the referendum among the people. Missionaries were in the front line, often at personal risk informing people in remote villages about the referendum and how to go about placing their vote. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/12/2005 righe 40 parole 471)