CNN - Rebels overrun major Zairian city

Kisangani's fall a blow to President Mobutu

March 15, 1997
Web posted at: 8:50 p.m. EST (0150 GMT)

KISANGANI, Zaire (CNN) -- Anti-government rebels in Zaire captured the strategic northeastern city of Kisangani on Saturday, winning their biggest victory yet in the country's nearly six-month civil war.

The loss of Zaire's third-largest city to the rebel army led by Laurent Kabila was seen as a major blow to President Mobutu Sese Seko, the ailing ruler who has led Zaire for the past 31 years.

The military situation for government troops began to deteriorate Friday evening, as rebels launched an attack on Kisangani's two airports with tanks and artillery. There were reports that government troops looted the city before fleeing with panicked residents across the Zaire River.

A military official in the capital, Kinshasa, said government soldiers also battled with Serbian mercenaries hired by the government to help defend the city. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said "there were many deaths."

Kabila announced the city had fallen at midafternoon. An aide close to Mobutu conceded that Kisangani was in rebel hands.

Relief workers also flee city

International relief workers, in Kisangani to aid 70,000 Rwandan Hutu refugees at a camp about 60 miles (96 km) to the south, also fled, leaving the refugees to fend for themselves.

Kabila's rebels launched their offensive in eastern Zaire in October, accusing Mobutu of enriching himself while letting the country sink into poverty. The president, who is suffering from prostate cancer, is in France receiving medical treatment. The rebels now have seized much of eastern Zaire -- more than one-fifth of the country.

From his headquarters on Goma, Kabila called on Mobutu to step aside.

"We must liberate the whole country," he said, adding that rebel forces are "thinking of going up to Kinshasa," which is 600 miles (970 km) to the southwest.

Concerns rise about coup aimed at Mobutu

A senior western diplomat in Kinshasa downplayed the chances that rebels could take the capital, but the military setback in Kisangani heightened concerns that government troops upset by the deteriorating military situation might try to launch a coup against Mobutu.

After meeting Saturday with a United Nations envoy seeking to end to the fighting, Kabila said negotiations with the government were possible. Observers speculated that the rebels might try to use Kisangani as a bargaining chip now that the city is in their hands.

Kisangani, with a population of 300,000, is the capital of Upper Zaire province and an important port and trading center along the Zaire River. The city served as headquarters for the Zairian army's fight against rebels in the region.

Correspondent Catherine Bond and Reuters contributed to this report.