ZAIRE: KINSHASA: PRESIDENT SEKO IS PREPARED TO MEET REBEL LEADER
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2024
- (12 Apr 1997) Eng/French/Nat
The Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko indicated for the first time Saturday that he would be willing to meet rebel leader Laurent Kabila face to face.
The meeting has been one of the key demands of Kabila's rebels, who have captured nearly half of the country in their seven-month push to overthrow Mobutu.
Under pressure from Western allies and eastern rebels, Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko indicated for the first time Saturday he would be willing to meet face to face with rebel leader Laurent Kabila.
The meeting has been one of the key demands of Kabila's rebels, who have captured nearly half of Zaire in their seven-month rebellion to overthrow Mobutu's 31-year dictatorship.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
" If he asks politely, I cannot refuse to meet a Zairian compatriot. But to be in Goma and declare I am giving him three days to answer...This is not my style, it is not my nature, I cannot reply"
SUPER CAPTION: Mobutu Sese Seko, President of Zaire
After making huge gains this month Kabila said he only wanted Mobutu's resignation
before Sunday and threatened to overrun Kinshasa.
But the ailing president dismissed the rebel demand to step down by Sunday, referring to Kabila as a «bandit chief.»
SOUNDBITE: (French)
"Listen, all that happened was because I was sick. I was in my sick bed when it all started. They stabbed in the back so what is happening to us could happen. It's all."
SUPER CAPTION: Mobutu Sese Seko, President of Zaire
Mobutu said he did not feel threatened by the approaching rebel forces who claimed last week to be just 160 miles (260 kilometres) north-east of Kinshasa.
It was the embattled president's longest and most in-depth news conference since returning to Zaire last month from Switzerland, where he was being treated for prostate cancer.
The 66-year old Zairian leader was joined by the new Prime Minister Likulia Bolongo.
Mobutu named Likulia Bolongo, a four-star general, his prime minister on Wednesday, amid hopes that his tattered army could be reinvigorated.
The new Prime Minister formed a new Cabinet on Friday and promised to rebuild the army and bring back order and discipline to a government under rebel siege.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
"The defence of the territory means the restructuring of the army in order to allow the public to understand our willingness to build a new republican army"
SUPER CAPTION: Likulia Bolongo, Zairian Prime Minister
He is the third Prime Minister in two weeks.
Likulia replaces Etienne Tshisekedi, a popular opposition leader who was blocked by Mobutu loyalists from taking office on Wednesday.
Tshisekedi had previously taken the place of Leon Kengo wa Dondo, the fall guy for the army's losses to eastern rebels.
The Zairian leader has been desperately trying to salvage his government considering everyday new options to solve the 7-month old crisis.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"My hopes, I still believe elections can decide, you know, and I said it in an interview with the local T-V I think only elections can bring a different figure, a different face of the political arena in this country".
SUPER CAPTION: Mobutu Nzanga, Mobutu's son and Communications advisor
But even with the democratic approach of his entourage, President Mobutu will yet have to find venues to avoid plunging the entire country in total chaos.
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Rest in peace 🕊️ mr president we made a big mistake look at Zaire today 😔😔😔 no peace
Tu nous manques bcp mon maréchal
Il manque á qui ? Nous famile Lumumba ? Né vous jouer pas de nous un cauchemar assassin sanguinaire criminel peut manquer qui pour avoir construit quelles infrastructures modernes dignes pour le pays
Le Maréchal !!! 💪💪💪❤
Il n’y a pas plus important que la paix…. Sans la paix et l’unité nationale, nous n’avons rien
Tant qu'il y aura de tels individus en Afrique, rien n'évoluera.
He looted all the mineral wealth of the DRC
We will miss this guy for sure 😔
lmao, c des gens comme toi qui dirons dans 20 ans que Joseph nous manque, ignare.
He was a very smart President. I used to admire the cool bitengi he would put on.
Change your mindset....everything is possible...
Il va sans dire que nous Congolais devons tirer des leçons de ces événements, afin que l'histoire ne se répète pas.
U go keep bb
un vrai président
la vie ne vaut rien om finira tous sous terre un jours
Il faut dire ça au président du Cameroun
The dictator is in hell
Truthfully it's time to unoccupy a territoire as African ! DRC is thé largest most historical one an thé costly déterré de peoples today ! If a vote is taken to make thé Old Zaïre or Congo a Monumental Continental Treasures of all it's borders than a New Africa begans ans poverty migration ends ! ONE VOTE CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE ! Thé worry is who gains from agriculture here's thé anwser ! TAX's
DES INCOMPENTANTS ET LACHES QUI N'ONT PAS HESITE A DETALLER COMME DES LAPAINS DEVANT LES GADOGOS.
😆😂😂 tu viens de massacrer le français " DES LAPAINS "
Commencez d'abord par écrire en français quand vous voulez balancer des raisonnements à sentiers battus
Je crois le Général likulya chaque jour en ville entrain de quémander et faire des longues distances à pieds, avant son extradition en Europe par Lusolo . Vanité de vanité
Il devient quoi maintenant ?
ba faux soldats kanambe azali kosakana na biso koboma lokola ba nzinzi kaniama le soutient
Personne ne t'avait poignarde' dans le dos. Les Americains t'avaient deja prevenus de ceder le pouvoir a' l'opposition lors de la Conference Nationale mais, helas tu avais tout rejette' et tu t'etais en-tete'. Bref, t'as subi les consequences de tes actions irreflechies. Bye.
V😂😢
Haaaaa mokili kk boye
Amakuru iburudi
La vie c'est rien ce lui qui croyez que ce lui le roi du Congo et voilà aujourd'hui ni trace Congo terre de nos enceintes mebele yaba coco
Thèse des occidentaux
Y
Let speak by your language. No French.
Meme son petit chapeau (>Mobutu) etait devenu plus grand pour sa tete!Quel malheureuse fin de vie!
Cancer en phase de métastase est dévastateur. Je voudrais bien vous y voir.
Ğ
🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷
Personne ne t'avait poignarde' dans le dos. Les Americains t'avaient deja prevenus de ceder le pouvoir a' l'opposition lors de la Conference Nationale mais, helas tu avais tout rejette' et tu t'etais en-tete'. Bref, t'as subi les consequences de tes actions irreflechies. Bye.