Six African Nations Sign Peace Pact, but Rebels Balk

Six nations fighting in Congo’s civil war signed a long-awaited peace accord Saturday. But squabbling rebels declined, dashing hopes for a speedy end to the continent’s biggest conflict.

Congo’s government and the five neighboring countries that have been drawn into the fight said a cease-fire will begin within 24 hours.

Because the three squabbling rebel groups refused to sign, there was nothing to prevent them from continuing their fight, said Olivier Kamitatu, a leader of the Congo Liberation Movement.

“It is not binding so long as we have not signed,” he said.

Together, the rebels occupy one-half of the mineral-rich central African country.

The 11-month conflict has disrupted stability and development throughout Central Africa, coming just a year after Congolese President Laurent Kabila ousted the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko from the former Zaire.

The civil war was started last August by the main rebel group, Rally for Democracy. The rebels accused Kabila of corruption, mismanagement and warmongering.

Rwanda and Uganda, whose presidents signed the agreement, have backed the rebels.

Namibia, Zimbabwe and Angola have backed Kabila, out of financial and security interests. The presidents of Namibia and Zimbabwe signed, as did Angola’s defense minister.

Frederick Chiluba, the president of Zambia and chief mediator in the 11-month war, said he will visit leaders from the main rebel group after a four-day meeting of African leaders in Algiers that ends Wednesday. He said he is confident he can resolve the problem.

Chiluba said the six countries will lay down their arms and form a joint military commission called for in the peace accord to contain and put an end to the conflict.

The accord allows U.N. military observers to move into Congo, to be followed by a full-fledged peacekeeping operation. But the U.N. Security Council hasn’t indicated exactly how that would work.

“This peace agreement will take effect, and all arrangements in the agreement will be enforced,” Chiluba said.

Other signatories to the accord were Chiluba, a representative of the Southern African Development Community, and observers from the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity.