Kabila: Democratic leader or another African strongman?
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
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'
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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