Kinshasa (Fides Service) - The Catholic Bishops of Democratic Congo, (formerly Zaire) have protested against a lack of progress in peace talks between the government and rebels. In a message addressed to the Catholics of Congo and all men and women of good will, the Standing Committee of the Bishops' Conference affirms: "When inter-Congolese dialogue started we emphasised that dialogue with all parties would be inevitable and urgent. We note with disappointment that this has not occurred and that the partial agreements reached at Sun City only aggravated the political crisis and they have not been respected ". The Bishops refer to peace talks which led to an agreement signed in South Africa in December 2002 by President Joseph Kabila, the RCD-Goma (Group for Congolese Democracy) and the Congo Liberation Movement and a delegation representing the civil society. The agreement stated that Kabila would remain President, assisted by four vice-presidents representing the four signing parties. Key ministries Home, Foreign, Defence were divided between government and the two rebels movements. The executive thus formed will last for two years when there will be elections with the participation of all political groups.
Unfortunately, months since the signing of the agreement, fighting has not stopped, as the Catholic Church leaders underline in their message, of which we quote significant excerpts. "The end of the war is no where in sight. The agreements have been neither respected nor applied. On the contrary armed conflicts have resumed in various parts of the Republic. The belligerents tergiversate and multiply excuses for continuing the war. The poverty of the people has reached an unbearable level. Faced with this inadmissible situation we, the shepherds of this people, affirm: enough is enough. We sternly denounce the intrigues of the belligerents, their indifference to the misery of the people, their obstinate pursuing of the logic of war…responsibility for the situation lies with the local political leaders concerned only about their personal selfish interests and their policies have nothing to do with the search for the well being of the people". See Bishops' message in French at www.fides.org (Fides Service 19/2/2003 EM lines 25 Words: 350)