Democratic Republic Congo (DRC)
10 December 2007
Pretoria: The South African Embassy in Kinshasa will, in view of South
Africa's Day of Reconciliation on 16 December 2007, undertake a series of
activities that will assist the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo
embark on structural reform processes to deepen and entrench democratic
principles, including respects for human rights, good governance and
sustainable development.
These structural reform processes form part of the DRC's national
reconciliation programmes begun through the Inter-Congolese Dialogue and the
Sun City process. This resulted in the adoption of the new Constitution and the
holding of presidential, legislative and national elections in the DRC that saw
the appointment of President Kabila as President of the Democratic Republic of
Congo.
The South African Embassy is reinforcing the Congolese democratisation
process by assisting, and adding value, to the national reconciliation efforts
of the Congolese Government and people. While reconciliation is by definition
an internal affair, the sharing of skills and experiences from South Africa
will assist the Congolese in the acceleration and deepening of their
reconciliation process.
Specifically, the objectives are as follows to:
* enable South African and Congolese church leaders, reconciliation experts
and CSO's to exchange experiences, opinion and views on the national
reconciliation process
* enable a synergy to be developed between the South African and Congolese
national reconciliation processes
* develop programmes of action, that include both government and civil society,
that can advance or add-value to national reconciliation processes
* ensure transparency and coordination in the national reconciliation and
state-building processes undertaken by political leaders, civil society and
other organisations
* develop project proposals that could be implemented by national and
international institutions, with assistance from donors and IGO's/BWI's, and
that will add-value to existing processes.
Reconciliation in the DRC is taking place within the context of the national
and regional legislative structures, the decentralisation process of
Government, and the efforts intended to advance state-building. The
r'econciliation events will bring together church leaders, reconciliation
experts and practitioners, and politicians to enhance the reconciliation
process.
The reconciliation events will take place from 14 December 2007 to 16
December 2007. The proceedings consist of three separate but mutually
reinforcing events:
a. The Ecumenical Reconciliation Dialogue: This consists of a visit by South
African Church leaders, led by BP Ivan Abrahams (South African Council of
Churches) to meet with and exchange experiences, on national reconciliation
priorities and objectives, with senior Congolese church leaders. The
involvement of many clergy within the national reconciliation processes
indicates that religious structures have an important role to play in advancing
the national reconciliation processes and building a unified, developing Congo.
The Dialogue will take place on Friday, 14 December 2007, at the Salle de
Conseil (Protestant Cathedral, Kinshasa).
b. The National Reconciliation Practitioners Seminar: South Africa is
pleased to make available the services of Dr Charles Villa-Vicencio (Institute
for Justice and Reconciliation and former Head of Research at the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission) who will act as Facilitator of the Seminar. The
objectives of the Seminar are to share experiences generated through the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission process in South Africa to add value to similar
processes in the DRC. It is expected that the Seminar, which will be attended
by political leaders, academics, civil society, womenâs organisations and the
youth, will eventuate in a final document advancing a programme of action to
contribute to national reconciliation and state-building in the DRC. The
Seminar will take place on Saturday, 15 December 2007, at Salon Kasai (Grand
Hotel, Kinshasa).
c. Day of Reconciliation celebration: The South African Embassy will be
celebrating the Day of Reconciliation with a formal cocktail event on Sunday,
16 December 2007. During the event, BP Johannes Seoka (South African Council of
Churches) will make an address on "National Reconciliation and Nation-Building:
The South African Experience." The event will take place at the Official
Residence of the Ambassador, Ubuntu Village, Kinshasa.
In announcing the Seminar, Dr M Tsele, South African Ambassador to the DRC
said "The people of Congo have collectively embarked on the historic process of
unifying their country, ending conflicts that have scarred their communities,
and reconciling previously warring groups so that, finally, Congo must rise up
as a peaceful, stable and prosperous nation, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with
others and at peace with itself and its neighbours.
"Ambassador Tsele indicated that, "it is our pledge as South Africa to
contribute in whatever way possible to make the ideal of a powerful and united
Congo a reality." In pointing out that the experiences of the South African
Truth and Reconciliation Commission could be of assistance to the Congolese,
Ambassador Tsele stated that "if there is any gift that we can give to the
Congolese people as South Africa, it is the gift of sharing our experiences in
reconciling as a nation."
Both during and following each of the events, there will be opportunity for
the media to interview important role-players.
For further information on the processes and events, please contact:
Mr Sean Pike
Cell: +243-81-326-2510 (Kinshasa)
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
10 December 2007
