PRETORIA, South Africa -- Leaders of 15 African states yesterday called for an immediate cease-fire in the civil war in Congo to head off the threat of full-scale regional conflict.
Congolese President Laurent Kabila's Angolan allies captured a key rebel stronghold in western Congo yesterday. The rebels acknowledged losing the town of Kitona, but said they were continuing their advance on Kinshasa, the capital, and had captured the eastern city of Kisangani.
At their summit in South Africa's capital, the African leaders called for a standstill of troops and recognized the government of Kabila, who toppled dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
The unanimous agreement was signed by Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Pasteur Bizimungu of Rwanda, who both support the rebels trying to oust Kabila.
The rebels' leaders did not attend the meeting, but the South Africans were confident that the rebels' interests were represented by Museveni and Bizimungu.
South African President Nelson Mandela, who was the host of the summit as chairman of the Southern African Development Community, said: "We mustn't imagine that the rebels are unreachable and are averse to the type of decisions that were taken here."
The rebels, he said, had repeatedly called for a cease-fire and negotiations.
The summit was boycotted by Presidents Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, both of whom have committed troops to Kabila's side. Mugabe was represented by his high commissioner, who endorsed the agreement. No Angolans were present, and dos Santos' reaction to the summit outcome was not known.
Kabila also missed the summit, citing medical reasons, but approved the agreement before it was published. He was represented at the meeting by Justice Minister Mwenze Kongolo.
"I am confident I will be able to reach peace," said Mandela, who was asked to work with the secretary general of the Organization of African Unity to bring about the cease-fire and troop standstill.
"It is going to be a process of talking to all the parties involved, but because there is unanimity, I have no concern whatsoever that we will reach agreement."
No deadlines were set, Mandela said, noting: "We took into account the difficulties and realities on the ground."
The summit was held as the rebels, who control about 40 percent of the country, advanced to within striking distance of Kinshasa, and as Zimbabwe and Angola moved to the defense of Kabila, whose 15-month rule has provoked accusations of incompetence, corruption, nepotism, violation of human rights and a lack of democracy.
