24 10 13 Reuters: Congo's Kabila says to create national unity government
Kabila,
presenting the findings of a national dialogue to resolve years of crisis in
Democratic Republic of Congo, also ruled out a blanket amnesty for rebels
operating in the mineral-rich east and called for the insurgents to lay down
their arms.
In a
wide-ranging speech, Kabila pledged to act on the more than 600 recommendations
drafted by representatives of the government, opposition and civil society
during three weeks of talks which concluded this month.
"A
government of national unity will be soon put in place," Kabila said in a
rare public speech. "Its priority mission will be the restoration of peace
and the authority of the state, reconstruction, decentralisation, organisation
of elections and the improvement of living conditions of the population."
Congo ranks bottom of the United Nations
Human Development Index. Millions of people have died in eastern Congo from
violence, disease and hunger since the 1990s as foreign-backed insurgent groups
have waged a series of rebellions, often for control of the region's rich
deposits of gold, diamonds and tin.
Among
the recommendations of the national dialogue were specific reforms to the
national electoral commission ahead of presidential elections due in 2016.
Some
members of the opposition – who dispute the validity of Kabila's 2011 election
victory – accuse the president of wanting to change the constitution to seek a
third term.
Kabila
announced the appointment of a special representative to combat against sexual
violence and the recruitment of child soldiers in lawless eastern Congo.
He
voiced frustration that peace talks between the government and the M23
rebel group hosted by neighbouring Uganda were stalled and he warned
that his government was not prepared to wait indefinitely for a solution.
In a
surprise move, Kabila also announced the repatriation of the remains of former
President Mobutu Sese Seko – who Kabila's father toppled from power in 1997 in a Rwandan-backed
rebellion.