CONGO: CONGOLESE 10TH BRIGADE REBELS ADVANCE CLOSER TO KINSHASA

(14 Aug 1998) Swahili/Nat

Fear ran rampant in Congo's capital Kinshasa on Thursday as a power blackout fed
speculation that rebel forces were advancing on the city.

Western diplomats and rebel spokesmen said rebel fighters had captured the town of Inga, about 200 kilometres (135 miles) from the capital, where the primary power
transformer for Kinshasa is located.

The rebels also said some of their troops had advanced to within 30 kilometres (18 miles) of the capital.

These are members of the Congolese rebels 10th Brigade.

As fighting in this central African country intensifies - they're receiving a pep talk from their leader.

Jean-Pierre Ondekane, commander of the 10th Brigade and a rebel leader, says the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, will fall to his troops by the end of the month.

The rebels say they are fed up with Laurent Kabila's rule, which they say has been tainted by mismanagement, corruption and nepotism.

He ousted former dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko in May last year.

Kabila claims that neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda are helping rebels, many of them ethnic Tutsis, who are trying to oust him.

Both countries were important backers of Kabila in his eight-month drive to oust dictator Mobutu but relations with his former backers have been gradually deteriorating.

SOUNDBITE: (Swahili)
"We say no more dictatorship, no more tribalism, no more injustice and no longer being controlled by thieves."
SUPER CAPTION: Jean-Pierre Ondekane, Commander 10th Brigade

Although Kinshasa is the main prize, for the time being, these men are preparing to fly to the town of Matadi where heavy fighting has been reported and authorities are warning people to stay in their homes.

Latest reports say rebels have captured the Matadi airport.

The port in the city has been targeted by the rebels for at least several days due to its strategic location as a supply route to Kinshasa.

A column of at least 12 trucks and armoured personnel carriers filled with government troops were seen on Thursday racing out of Kinshasa in the direction of Matadi.

SOUNDBITE (French)
"It's a very aggressive unit. They've been fighting for two months in the bush and that's why I've chosen them to reinforce the units that are in Matadi because the objective is Kinshasa".
SUPER CAPTION: Jean-Pierre Ondekane, Commander 10th Brigade

Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon told reporters that two Marine amphibious warships had been dispatched to the Atlantic waters off Congo in case they are needed to evacuate U-S citizens living there.

But it will take nine or ten days for the ships to reach Congo.

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