DEM REP OF CONGO
CONGO REBELS
Nov 2000 - 26’16 MINS
03.06
Gentil Bokoso says he is fourteen years old.
He's been a soldier for two years... first fighting to keep President Laurent Kabila in power, now to topple him.
Gentil is a rebel
03.18
IV Gentil Bokoso
Once we’ve captured the capital and the war is over I’ll consider going back to school.
02.25
Gentil will probably never go to school again. His war has been called Africa's "First World War". Three rebel groups are fighting the government in Kinsasha. Five neighbouring states are directly involved in the conflict. Seven more are affected. It's a war that is difficult to understand. Up to now, all efforts to bring peace to the DRC have failed. Agreements have collapsed and ceasefires broken. Negotiations continue, but a peaceful solution seems far off. Calls have been made for South African mediation and an international peace force that will include South African troops.
It's a war that has devastated a country and its people. Children have been drawn into the conflict.
Even if he survives the war, he would have lost a childhood deep in the jungles of Central Africa...
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04.14
In October this year, the Special Assignment team entered the DRC via neighbouring Uganda. This is hostile territory with virtually no infrastructure or amenities. We spent time with two of the rebel groups, both backed by Uganda.
04.28
They are called the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo, and the Congolese Rally for Democracy Liberation Movement. A third rebel movement is backed by neighbouring Rwanda.
Kabila has held onto power with the help of Angolan, Zimbabwean and Namibian troops.
The three main rebel groups now control roughly half the country.
04.59
Our journey starts in the eastern part of Congo in Bunia, headquarters of the Congolese Rally for Democracy Movement or RCD-ML. Prof. Wambia dia Wamba, once an acadamic at Tanzania's University of Dar es Salaam, is now the rebel leader.
05.20
Prof. Ernst Wambia dia Wamba, leader RCD/ML.
I’ve been in the situation where you come out and you say to yourself I could have died. If death meets up somewhere that’s too bad. At least if we have made some contribution that’s enough satisfaction to keep going and losing luxuries doesn’t make us worry.
05.52
Ugandan instructors are training Wamba’s rebel troops. The root of the war in the Congo can be traced back to the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. As the Rwandan Patriotic Front took power, the genocidal forces fled into eastern Congo. They found refuge under the rule of former dictator Mobuto Sese Seko.
In 1997, Rwanda and Uganda used Laurent Kabila to overthrow Mobutu. Kabila became president, but failed to drive the genocidaires from his territory. It was than that they decided to start a new rebellion against Kabila.
But before long, the rebel movement split...
06.27
Wamba's group control a significant part of Eastern Congo. But Wamba insists that he will follow the diplomatic and political route to take over power in the capital of Kinshasa.
06.37
Prof. Ernst Wambia dia Wamba, leader RCD/ML.
Even if it were possible for us to get to Kinshasa, we would still have to sit down and agree on some objective legislation so nobody will feel sufficiently rejected to go the bush and start another war.
07.07
With our visit to Bunia, deep tensions were underlying the superficial calm. Soon after our departure, some of Wamba's deputies tried to overthrow him. They are impatient with his lack of military action. Wamba is now clinging to power...with Uganda trying to smooth over the differences in the group.
07.28
Prof. Ernst Wambia dia Wamba, leader RCD/ML.
And so you have different contacts, an attempt to bring some unifying position within each rebel group like ours. We’ve had some difficulties, we are trying to solve those. But also the various groups to come to some unity and make sure that the main enemy for the moment is the Kabila regime.
08.03
From Bunia, we went to Gbadolite, headquarters of the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo or MLC. The MLC controls the vast northern Equateur province.
08.15
MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba is no ordinary rebel leader. He is one of the wealthiest businessmen in Congo and and has huge business interests in Belgium. The leadership core consists of a group of young Congolese... all wealthy European businessmen in their own right. They resemble international playboys rather than rebels. But they insist that they are serious about their two-year-old struggle.
08.40
IV MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba
I left all my comforts in Europe and my business was running very well, for that cause, to liberate the people of Congo. I know that I’m taking a very big risk at the front, on my life, bombardment every day by Kabila, attacks from soldiers, we can die any time. That’s our choice because we believe that if leaders weren’t prepared to give their lives, to sacrifice themselves, we’ll never get freedom in Congo.
09.25
Ironically, the MLC headquarters is situated in a a town carved out of the dense Equatorial jungle by Mbuto. He built Gbadolite near the village where he was born.
Mobutu's exotic jungle palaces are a monument to the man who plundered Congo's wealth. He became one
of the wealthiest men in the world and his country one of the poorest. While Congolese starved in poverty, Mobutu built shrines for his family members.
It was against the background of these excesses that Uganda decided to back Kabila in toppling Mobutu. Now Uganda’s been accused of using Bemba to take control of Kinshasa.
10.19
IV MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba
I’m not a barbateur, because I believe that will be the solution for Congo tomorrow. Congo should be able to get their own leader chosen by the people of Congo. And I think the mistake made by Kabila was: we were a puppet, it’s true. You know the resentment. Tomorrow Congo should be able to have an army to defend its territory, to secure the border and to secure the people of Congo, not with a foreign army, but for the Congolese people.
11.17
Bemba took us with him on a visit to Bumba, three hundred kilometres south of Gbadolite.
He has emerged as the most popular rebel leader in Congo. This is due to his military victories, combined with a diplomatic and political approach.
11.33
A crew of Russian pilots shuffles Bemba around his territory in this Russian built Antonov.
11.50
Bemba spends a lot of time mobilising the Congolese in his bid for power. This, he says, will help him stay in power if he takes Kinshasa.
In MLC areas, local authorities choose their own leaders. Children go to school and there is policing. Health services are also provided.
12.12
IV MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba
It is very significant, very important for us, after 2 years of fighting, that will still get the support of the people.
12.29
Bemba denies allegations that Ugandan troops are fighting on his frontline. He insists that Uganda merely gives training and logistical support. He says his 20 000 rebel troops are all Congolese... like these two batallions at a military pass-out parade in Bumba.
12.50
IV MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba
Those soldiers know that they are not paid, but volunteers for the war. We wanted to explain to them that they are not mercenaries we are rebels and they need to understand why we should fight and what’s the knid of sacrifice we need to be free tomorrow. The knid of sacrifice is the supreme sacrifice that means death. We can meet the enemy tomorrow we can be killed tomorrow by the enemy.
13.33
Back in Gbadolite, the MLC leadership opened the doors to their weapon stores. This is where the new troops will get their weapons from. The movement claims to have captured millions of dollars worth of arms and ammunition from Kabila's army - the Forces Armee de Congolais or FAC. Some of the weaponry seems to be brand new or hardly used.
13.58
Dominique Kanku
Spokesperson, MLC
They have been captured from Kabila’s army. We’ve captured a lot. Some are cleaned and sent back to the units. Now we can see Kabila is a supplier. We estimate there could have been bought around March, April or May.
14.25
In the DRC, every trip is a difficult one.
Mobutu deliberately saw to it that there'd be virtually no roads. He believed this would prevent any uprising against him.
Mobutu simply jetted from town to town.
But in the current war situation, there's a huge risk that any plane may be shot down. Flights are limited to the essential.
We waited for weeks for this flight to Libenge, halfway to the MLC frontline of Dongo.
14.59
From Libenge, it was another two day trip by boat to Dongo.
15.28
The Ubangi river borders Congo-Brazzaville. It's along this river that some of the fiercest clashes between the MLC and Kabila's forces have taken place.
The rebels captured the jungle stronghold three months ago.
Here, conditions are extreme.
But the MLC says the Dongo frontline is crucial. It's one of its two frontlines from where a military onslaught against Kinshasa can be launched.
16.10
Alengbia Dieu Gentil
MLC Commander, Dongo
We eat… I believe that’s what’s important. Apart from walking on foot, and maybe sleeping under the stars there are no other difficulties.
16.30
Despite the harsh jungle conditions, we found many women fighting alongside the men in the first line of defense at Dongo. They are treated no differently than their male comrades.
16.54
IV Marie Batakoto
I will not have any regrets about killing soldiers on the battlefield. On the battlefield, the enemy will kill me if I don’t kill him or her first. They’re always after us and we’re always after them. It becomes a game, if you kill, me I kill you.
17.07
Marie Batakoto is the first woman at Dongo to be trained to use the heavy G2 machine gun. The twenty- year-old has been a rebel for two years. She has fought in many battles. In one of these, two men were shot dead next to her in the trench.
17.23
IV Marie Batakoto
I didn’t feel anything, when I saw they had died… I just thanked God that I’d survived because I’m a soldier. I just got up and started looking for my comrades.
17.38
The rebel troops believe they are capable of immediate military victory. Like them, Marie has only one goal.
17.46
IV Marie Batakoto
I want the MLC to take control of Kinshasa tomorrow. We want to be in power and develop the country… Men may be physically stronger than women, but we cope with the training the instructors give us. It’s on an emotional level that we have to be tougher than men.
18.22
IV MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba
Women are fighting but they are very strong. Using machine guns, support weapons. They are very strong. Don’t be surprised but sometimes they’re even stronger than the men.
18.45
The battle for Dongo lasted five days.
Right up to the dying moments of the fighting, one of Kabila's soldiers kept firing at the rebels... sowing destruction among them with an anti-aircraft gun.
Eventually the government forces retreated. The rebels found the deadly gunner in a ditch next to his anti-aircraft gun... seventeen-year-old Mushimi Kabamba.
They captured the boy.
Now he's one of the most effective fighters in Bemba's army... still manning the same gun.
19.13
Alengbia Dieu Gentil
MLC Commander, Dongo
Kabamba was trained by the Koreans to use this… he’s a specialist. He’s young, but he knows this weapon well. He’s mastered it completely and he loves it.
19.30
At night, many of the rebels relax.
They know Kabamba is on his post just behind the first line of defense, guarding the skies. He eats and
sleeps on his gun... waiting for Kabila's forces day and night.
19.46
IV Mushimi Kabamba
Kabila has no chance if he comes here. If he comes in an Antonov or a MiG or a helicopter I’ll shoot it down. I’ll follow him and track him down, no matter where he goes.
20.00
IV MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba
We have a lot of prisoners of war coming from Kabila’s side. They are here, they are free. You’ve met them in our camp. They are completely free, but they refuse to go back.
20.10
Many prisoners of war undergo what the MLC calls "ideology training". Then they join their former enemies. Among them, dozens of children.
20.19
IV Gentil
I was born in Gemena and grew up there with my father. Then my older brother took me to Kinshasa and sent me to school. I’d been in school for only 2 months when Kabila’s people started recruiting people. They took me and my friends from school. They told us to come to Dongo. Only when we arrived in Dongo did we realise there was fighting going on. We fought in Gozoma and I was captured by the ALC. After that, I joined Jean-Pierre Bemba’s MLC.
20.54
IV MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba
Our condition of recruitment is minumum 17 years old and it’s not a secret that Kabila took small children. So what can we do with them? We take them and put them to rear, try to give them the ideology that are children. If they want to go to school, we send them back to school.
21.27
Gentil insists that he is as good a soldier as any of his grown-up comrades.
21.34
IV Gentil
You may think I’m a child but I’m no longer a child. I am strong. I can defend myself. I’m a child. I can only have a girlfriend or wife when I’ve grown up.
21.58
The adults deciding Gentil's fate have been talking a lot about peace... Little has been done to secure it. Last year August, the Lusaka Ceacefire Agreement was signed. But the peace talks have run into difficulties. Kabila rejected former Botswana president Sir Ketumire Masire as organiser of an all-party national dialogue in the Congo. He also refused to guarantee the security of international peacekeepers. The United Nations Security Council approved the deployment of 500 military observers and 5 000 support troops.
22.30
IV Alengbia Dieu Gentil
MLC Commander, Dongo
If everyone wants to call them in, we would like to say that peace, like freedom, comes at a price. If peace is to return to this country, they have to be deployed in the forest. They are military people… the peacekeepers.
22.47
IV MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba
First thing you need is a lot of observers. 5,000 is not enough. In that bush your saw there, to bring in 5,000 observers is nothing. It is really nothing. It will not have a big effect. As you see, the conditions of life in the bush is not easy. We are ready to do it because we have no choice. If we don’t do it Kabila will kill all of us. Kill civilians. So that’s what we choose and we know that there is a price to pay. So now are foreign forces really ready for that?
23.25
The handful of UN observers who have been deployed in rebel areas, don't venture out of the big towns. They haven't witnessed any of the many battles Marie has fought.
23.30
IV MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba
They’ve never been on the front line to observe the ceasefire. So I think that we should be realistic. The UN can help us by putting more pressure on the parties who don’t want to implement now the peace accords integral with dialogue. That’s the most important today, integral with dialogue. You may find a solution if everybody is in good faith. Otherwise let the Congolese determine themselves.
24.18
Gentil was sent back with us to Gbadolite. He was happy... to him, Gbadolite is the next stop on the way to Kinshasa. Gentil was not aware of the intricate political decisions his leader has to make.
It's believed that Kabila recently offered Bemba the vice-presidency of the country in return for a guarantee that he would stay president for two years. He's allegedly also offered other rebel leaders positions in return for the same guarantee. But Bemba insists that the implementation of the Lusaka accord is the only way to find peace.
24.51
IV MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba
Let’s have a peace accord integral with dialogue. Unarmed opposers, armed opposers, civic society, Kabila people. Let’s go around the table. Let’s decide what should be the future in Congo for the transition period, with elections after the transition period. Let’s implement it. That is a political solution… MLC will continue mobilising the people, recruiting more soldiers. We are ready to defend the people of Congo, defend these soldiers. Ready also for dialogue. Ready to find a solution for our country. Ready to fight also. What we hope for Congo tomorrow is for Congo to be unified.
26.18
Two million people have already died as a result of the war in the DRC. Neighbouring countries have been destabilised. The country's huge natural resources are being squandered on weapons. If a lasting political solution is not found soon, Congo may yet pay a much higher price....
26.26
IV MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba
The time will come when we say OK we start war, we gave peace a chance, we didn’t succeed, the next solution will be war. Maybe we’ll stop again and give peace another chance. I think so. Maybe this war could go on for another 50 years. We don’t expect it but we are ready for that.
27.14
Gentil was twelve years old when he was taken from his family. Now he has very few dreams left... but he does dream of seeing his parents again one day... in Kinshasa...if they survive the war.
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A report by Adri Kotze