Christof Maletsky
17 November 2008
NAMIBIA has not completely ruled out the possibility of sending troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Well-placed sources in the ruling Swapo Party told The Namibian over the weekend that an earlier statement by Defence Minister Charles Namoloh that Namibia will not send troops was a "blunder".
"He was not supposed to say because he had not consulted the President (Hifikepunye Pohamba) or Cabinet. There is still that possibility (of sending the troops)," a source said.
The statement was confirmed by two other Swapo insiders.
In fact, the weekend's "historic" and first substantive meeting between the Swapo Politburo and the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) also touched on the issue.
During that meeting, The Namibian understands, Namoloh was reminded that he needed to consult before making such statements.
Namibia is a known ally of the DRC government, having moved in together with Zimbabwe and Angola in 1998 to protect former President Laurent Kabila's government when it was under attack from rebels supported by Rwanda and Uganda.
Namibia had around 2 000 troops in DRC, who remained there after Kabila's assassination to help his son Joseph remain in power.
Sources said Swapo would call a media briefing today to share some of the key decisions taken during the weekend's meeting.
The Namibian has it on good authority that among the other issues discussed were the "continued hibernation" of some people suspected to be members of Rally for Democracy and Progress in the ruling party.
Other issues were the timing of the President's split of the Office of the Attorney General from the Justice Ministry as well as decisions by some ministers to get rid of their personal assistants.
It is believed that Swapo is still uncomfortable about the presence of several top officials in key Government positions whose loyalty towards the ruling party is questioned.
Among them are Namibia's Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr Kaire Mbuende, the Special Advisor to the President on Foreign Affairs, Tuliameni Kalomoh, and the Executive Director in the Office of the President, Ndali-Ché Kamati.
Recently Kamati issued a statement in which he denied his links to the RDP.
Sources said Pohamba told the weekend's meeting that he had checked with all three about their status and they all confirmed that they remained Swapo members.
"That is what he told us but other people also denied that they were RDP members until they were exposed and had to be kicked out," said one Swapo member.
On the split of the Office of the Attorney General from the Justice Ministry, sources said some Politburo members were concerned about the timing of the decision since it was clear that no one had been identified to take the job of the Attorney General, with Dr Albert Kawana put there as a temporary measure.
According to them there was no urgency.
During the discussions some senior Swapo members felt that although it was the prerogative of ministers to fire their personal assistants, such moves were in bad taste for the party and needed to be reconsidered.
Until the split, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana was holding three posts: Swapo Secretary General, Attorney General and Justice Minister.
Some in Swapo want her to move to the Swapo Party head office on a full-time basis in the near future - as per the party's congress resolution.
The weekend's meeting between the Politburo and the SPYL was described as "historic" since it was the first "substantive" one between the two groups.
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This is a good time to come together, Africa, and solve once for all this lasting crisis in Eastern Congo. A strong military force is needed now more than ever to disarm all the militias(FDLR,CNDP,...) with no exception in Eastern Congo and establish peace. There won't be any lasting peace if any excuse is good to purchase weapons and create rebellion to overthrow the legal government. Enough is enough.
Yes my fellow African, it is a good time to come together.Don't you believe please, that Rwanda's auhority should create some space for reconciliation in their country! As long as Kagame and the Rwandans do not do that, I suspect that history will repeat itself.Arrogance has never been a good thing. The world is tired of the games being played by the actual governments.No one is buying the victim's game anymore.Reconciliation is needed in Rwanda.All Rwandans are the same.We Africans do not love each other, we keep on avoiding the truth, even at a national level people do that unfortunately. SO SAD
Agree with your point,brother. But until current Rwanda government and the International Community understand that Rwanda belongs to all the rwandese people,we must move forward in Congo. Disarm all the rebels(FDLR, CNDP,...) as they 're doing more harm to Congo than to their fellow rwandese. After they are all disarmed and the foreign rebels moved far from the borders, then we can talk about whatever issues the congolese rebels if any have to discuss.
If African associations are to be taken seriously, then the SADC must do every best they can to protect and support the elected governement of the DRC. When one member state is attacked all members are attacked.
This will greatly discourage dishonest wars such as this one.
The rebels in Congo do not seem interested in peace negotiations. They will do so now to calm the storm down and resume later because they realise many people see no justification for this war. I also suspect taht they want to talk now to allow them to stay rather being ousted by SADC forces etc.