From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: ZAIRE: U.S. backs Tshisekedi and national conference
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 01:10:15 GMT

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: North America
Title: ZAIRE: U.S. backs Tshisekedi and national conference


washington, oct 7 (ips) -- in the strongest statement distancing
itself from zairean president mobutu sese seko, the u.s. state
department wednesday stated its support for the government of
prime minister etienne tshisekedi and its role in the transitional
process designed by the sovereign national council (snc).

the state department also said it was working with france and
belgium in ''following the situation in zaire closely and noted
with particular concern recent developments that might endanger
democratisation and the rebuilding of the economy.''

that statement appeared to refer to the stand-off which began
last weekend over control of the zaire's central bank and the
outbreak of what it called ''ethnic disturbances'' in mineral-rich
shaba province in the southern part of the country.

troops loyal to mobutu, a close u.s. ally since he took power
in 1965, surrounded the bank friday in what was seen as a new test
of strength between tshisekedi and mobutu.

the crisis began when tshisekedi, who was elected to his post
by an opposition-dominated national council, suspended central
bank governor and long-time mobutu intimate nyemba shabani and
appointed mawakani samba to take his place.

''it is important the transitional government quickly establish
control over public finances and key appointments, including that
of the governor of the national bank, and immediately begin the
task of economic and financial reforms,'' the state department
said monday.

mobutu, considered one of the world's wealthiest men, has long
been accused of looting zaire's treasury for his own enrichment.
under domestic and international pressure, he opened the national
conference 14 months ago and appointed tshisekedi as prime
minister in september, 1991.

but, unhappy with tshisekedi's continuing attacks on his rule,
mobutu dismissed him within days and later suspended the
conference when it became clear that opposition forces there had
become dominant.

under renewed pressure -- economic collapse and aid cutoffs by
the united states, france and belgium -- mobutu, last summer,
reconvened the conference, which promptly appointed tshisekedi.
(more/ips)

zaire: u.s. backs tshisekedi and national conference(2-e)

zaire: u.s. (2)

the administration of president george bush has been pressed by
congress to call on mobutu to resign, but u.s. officials have
insisted that mobutu could disrupt the transition process from the
outside.

wednesday's statement, which did not even mention mobutu, was
the strongest in a series by the department indicating backing for
the snc and frustration with mobutu.

''the u.s. government confirms its endorsement of the
transitional process elaborated by the snc, hopes that the
conference will swiftly complete its work with a view to the
holding of free and fair national elections, and reiterates its
support for the tshisekedi government as part of that process,''
it said.

''we call upon all zaire's political forces to support a
transition government with full authority to achieve political,
economic and social recovery, including control over public
finances and key appointments.''

the statement also said that washington will send a team of
disaster assistance experts to shaba to investigate the needs of
thousands of refugees who have been displaced by the unrest there.

the united states, which provides only humanitarian aid
channelled through non-governmental organisations to zaire, will
continue doing so in the current crisis, the state department
said. (end/ips/ip/jl/yjc/92)