Rebel Leader Hopes For Talks With Zaire’s Mobutu U.N. Calls Again For A Cease-Fire, But Rebel Says Truce Isn’t Imminent

Africa - Zairian rebel leader Laurent Kabila said Wednesday he hoped direct negotiations with President Mobutu Sese Seko’s government could begin soon and would stop the fighting in eastern Zaire.

U.S. officials are working with South African President Nelson Mandela to end Zaire’s civil war. Mobutu so far has refused to be directly involved in the negotiations.

Kabila, speaking to reporters after meeting Mandela, said any chance for a cease-fire depended on setting up talks with Mobutu’s government.

“We must … assume that peace can be found here with the regime of Mr. Mobutu,” Kabila said. “For us, we are ready to have direct negotiations with them.”

Asked if a cease-fire was imminent, he answered: “No cease-fire. We are close to the negotiations. We haven’t yet discussed it with them.”

Mobutu envoy Honore Ngbanda also was in South Africa on Wednesday. But there has not been a face-to-face meeting between the warring Zairian factions.

Still, the presence of Kabila and Ngbanda, Mobutu’s security adviser, was the strongest signal so far that peace talks could begin soon.

The Kabila-led rebels took up arms in September after the government tried to expel ethnic Tutsis from eastern Zaire. Their rebellion is aimed at toppling Mobutu, whose 31-year dictatorship has left mineral-rich Zaire among the world’s poorest countries.

U.N. envoy Mohamed Sahnoun renewed calls for a cease-fire, saying he was “gravely concerned” that escalating fighting is endangering civilians, refugees and aid workers.

A Zairian defense ministry spokesman in Kinshasa said troops stopped the rebels about 21 miles from Kindu, one of two government-held towns with airports in eastern Zaire.

“They left behind arms and there were also many deaths in the rebel camp,” spokesman Leon Kalima said Wednesday. “The Zairian army is in complete control of Kindu.”

There was no way to immediately verify Kalima’s account.

Mobutu and Kabila had been reluctant to be seen negotiating directly, but Kabila’s comments Wednesday indicated flexibility.

“Let’s hope that the negotiations will start soon,” he said.

The rebel leader flew secretly to a small airport outside Johannesburg on Tuesday. He then went to Pretoria for talks with U.S. State Department officials and separate meetings with South African officials.