Congo-Role-Play

Roleplay of DRC Negotiations
12-5-02
The Ugandan backed rebels will reluctantly accept the deal granting Bemba a
position as one of four vice presidents, while retaining Joseph Kabila as President, given
that the DRC government agrees to their other major objectives. After all, the Ugandan
backed group has enough power to disrupt the transition if they believe that the position
of vice president does not afford them enough influence, or that Joseph Kabila remains
too strong.
First, the Ugandans will attempt to secure a considerable guarantee that the
position will not be merely nominal. Second, the Ugandans will push for elections to be
held as soon as possible, within six months, or more realistically, a year. Third, the MLC
placed on record that it wants control of the Ministry of Mining and Minerals. This
demand could meet serious opposition from members of the international community in
addition to those within the Congo.
Additionally, the two main rebel movements, the MLC and the RCD are
demanding "vertical power sharing" in the military, in the provinces, the intelligence and
diplomatic services, the police, and state-owned companies, a concept rejected by the
government of President Joseph Kabila. The government wants to agree now only on the
sharing of the executive, the National Assembly and the senate.
Economics
The objective of the elite network in the areas controlled by Uganda has been to exercise
monopolistic control over the area’s principal natural resources, cross-border trade and
tax revenues. Notwithstanding the apparent momentum towards normalizing relations