They are sending dissuasive messages, veiled threats and intervention warnings from the near Congo-Brazzaville. Thousands of troops from France, Belgium, the United States, and Portugal have been deployed in Brazzaville, only six kilometers away from Kinshasa. The pretext is to evacuate foreign residents from Zaire's main city, which may be taken by Kabila's forces in a matter of days, unless both leaders agree a cease fire. The western powers are set to frustrate the triumphant entrance of the rebel forces into the Zairean capital. Because they do not want a strong man in such a large territory.
Zaire is Africa's third largest country.
It has more than 2,345,000 square kilometers and about 50 million inhabitants. Zaire also has large prairies suitable for agriculture and cattle raising and lakes and rivers for fishing and navigation. In middle of this expanded field and complicated geography, Kabila rides alone towards the unknown. His solitude is stressed because his closest friends, his comrades, have been killed by Mobutu. He currently lives in Cuba, working as a reporter for the Prensa Latina news agency.