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Kabila: Democratic leader or another African strongman?

kabila May 18, 1997
Web posted at: 3:11 p.m. EDT (1911 GMT)

(CNN) -- Zairian leader Laurent Kabila no longer works in the hidden jungle command posts of Africa's third largest country. His goal of ousting longtime President Mobutu Sese Seko has been accomplished, and his time is now. The direction of Zaire -- at least in the near future -- is up to the fiery new leader.

But the problem the world is having with Kabila is knowing whether he will fully embrace democracy or turn out to be another brutal African strongman.

Certainly the arrival of Kabila and the Alliance of Democratic Forces offers hope of a fresh start for the 45 million people of Zaire, among the world's poorest.

When Kabila's forces marched into the capital of Kinshasa Saturday, thousands took to the streets to celebrate, waving the triumphant "V" for victory sign and shouting slogans in support of Kabila.

But citizens are now wondering what the next step for Zaire, called the Democratic Republic of Congo by rebels, will be.

"We don't know what we have to do," said one Zairian. "We ask all the European countries that support Kabila to come and support us."

Answering questions of atrocity

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One of the most disturbing questions the international community has had for Kabila is his handling of Rwandan Hutu refugees who have wandered the jungles of eastern Zaire and are now being repatriated to their homeland.

Accusations of rebel atrocities have dogged Kabila's forces throughout their offensive across Zaire. Kabila has repeatedly denied the charges of killings and other abuses of the refugees.

U.S. State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns recently said reports of rebel atrocities are disturbing.

"When the rebel alliance took Kisangani, there were very credible reports of massacres and of ill treatment of the refugees there," he said. "We have told Mr. Kabila it is very important that he send the right signals early on."

Becoming a statesman

Kabila is now 58 years old, making him one of the oldest guerrilla leaders in the world. A lifelong revolutionary and Mobutu opponent, Kabila had disappeared from the public eye until the recent uprising, with some associates assuming he had died years ago.

Adonis Hoffman, an African affairs analyst, said the new leader "has some growth to experience."

"He needs to become a statesman," Hoffman said. "He's been out in the bush for many years now. He has to establish his democratic credentials if he's going to be a major player in Africa."

Kabila wants 'modern society'

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So far Kabila has made no move to share power with any of Zaire's political parties. The people of Zaire are looking for reassurance on this issue, as are world leaders.

"The United States' position is clear: We want to see a transition to a genuine democracy," U.S. President Bill Clinton said recently.

For his part, Kabila has pledged a democratic rule, to form a "transitional government of national salvation" by Tuesday and to convene an assembly within two months.

"To have a modern society and to build a country, that is why I have been fighting for a long time -- to crash corruption and everything, the dictatorship especially," he said.

CNN's Mark Dulmage contributed to this report.

 
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