New York - The recent warming up in ties between the leaders of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo could alter the situation in the war-prone Great Lakes region in Africa, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo said Monday. Congo's President Joseph Kabila and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame are "on speaking terms," Obasanjo told the UN Security Council during a session reviewing the situation in the Great Lakes.
"If anything gives me hope for the future, it is the rapprochment between the DRC and Rwanda, and between presidents Kabila and Kagame," said Olusegun, who serves as UN special envoy for the region.
Olusegun noted the historic talks between Kabila and Kagame in Goma in August on economic cooperation to develop energy resources in Lake Kivu and the restoration of diplomatic ties and exchange of ambassadors that took place in the last two weeks.
The conflicts in Congo between various ethnic groups, particularly between the Tutsi rebel groups and Congolese government troops, have wrecked border areas of the two countries. The latest UN-backed Kimia II military operations against the armed rebels have been charged with worsening the situation in those areas.
But Olusegun said Kimia II has achieved "reasonable success" and the Congolese army has received support for the continuation of the operation in South Kivu.
"While we should not downplay the humanitarian consequences of those operations, it is important that we continue to support the Congolese government in its resolve to rid the Kivus of the FDLR (the rebel forces) while encouraging the government to remain mindful of the protection of civilians," Olusegun said.
