By Norm Dixon
The demoralised armed forces of Zaire's corrupt and brutal dictator Mobutu Sese Seko have been driven from a large area of the country's east by the fighters of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (ADFL). Rebel guerillas have vowed to continue their fight until Mobutu's regime in Kinshasa — 1300 kilometres away — is toppled.
On December 1, the town of Beni, 240 kilometres north of Goma, fell. Walikale, in the north-east, and Kindu and Kisangani, in the south-east, were also abandoned by Mobutu's troops in early December. Kisangani, known as Stanleyville during Belgian colonial rule, is Zaire's fifth largest city and the main trading port on the Zaire River.
On December 11, Zairean troops abandoned Bunia on the Ugandan border, Mobutu's last stronghold in eastern Zaire. Bunia is a major trading and mining centre. By January 2, rebels had captured Mangbula, 45 kilometres north of Bunia.
Escaping north and west, retreating Zairean troops have rampaged through towns and villages looting, raping and killing. The Mobutu regime declared the vast northern province of Upper Zaire, which borders Sudan, a disaster zone after troops killed 60 civilians and attacked scores of towns. The declaration means more troops will be deployed in the region, suggesting that the uprising may be spreading.
The rebels control of an area 550 kilometres long and 480 kilometres wide stretching along Zaire's borders with Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. Press reports indicate that life in eastern Zaire's main cities, Goma, Bukavu and Uvira — which fell to the rebels early in their campaign — is returning to normal. Markets are crowded, businesses have reopened and farmers are bringing food into town to sell.
The ADFL administration has restored water and electricity supplies. Goma's only major factory, which makes cigarettes, is operating again. The ADFL has appointed local people to key political posts.
Rebel leader Laurent Kabila said the ADFL would permit civil servants to return to their jobs as long as they do not demand bribes. Mobutu's soldiers can also remain if they pledge allegiance to the new administration.
Kabila is quoted as saying the rebels want a system in which Zaire's huge mineral wealth benefits the people. However, mining operations owned by foreign companies would not be seized.
"Those companies will be able to operate as normal. Just as long as they pay their taxes to us", Jean Kabongo, an adviser to Kabila, told a reporter for the Washington Post on December 4. "We do not want them to leave, we need them to operate the mines."
Within the zones liberated from Mobutu's "kleptocracy" are the diamond mines near Kindu, and Mobutu's personal gold mines near Bunia. There are many mining operations in the Kivu provinces. Other minerals present in rebel areas include tin and tungsten.
"This is a very, very rich country. There is no reason why the people should be this poor. We must stop the thieves in Mobutu's regime who are stealing everything for themselves", Kabila said.
A rebel radio broadcast monitored on December 27, however, warned mine owners that their leases may be taken over if they do not resume production. The broadcast quoted Kabila as saying that British, US and Canadian consortia already had applied to acquire an idle Anglo-Canadian gold mining concession — with gold reserves worth nearly $1.5 billion — at Kamituga, 95 kilometres south-west of Bukavu near the Rwandan border.
Mobutu's privately owned gold mine is estimated to have reserves of 100 tonnes. Zaire's reported gold production in 1995 was more than a tonne, but the actual output is believed to be nine times larger if illegal production that is secreted into Mobutu's personal bank accounts is included.
The Mobutu regime has vowed to retake eastern Zaire. There are reports that Kinshasa is recruiting mercenaries.