Zaire Revolts

Even a few years ago, it would have been much simpler: Send in a company of Foreign Legion paratroopers, or even more French military muscle, and patch up yet another African crisis to keep a friendly "Big Man" in power. But that hasn't happened in Zaire, and the swelling death rattle of Marshal Mobutu Sese Seko's 32-year-old reign over Central Africa's long-suffering heart has come as an enormous shock and humiliation for France.

Rwanda's powerful defense minister, Paul Kagame, has acknowledged for the first time his country's key role in the overthrow of Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko, saying that the Rwandan government planned and directed the rebellion that toppled the longtime dictator and that Rwandan troops and officers led the rebel forces.

After six months and nearly 600 miles, a long-missing group of Rwandan Hutu refugees has reached the end of the road in a sad, strange odyssey. Here in Zaire's jungle gloom, where towering trees and thick foliage block the equatorial sun, most of the refugees--who fled deeper into Zaire last year instead of returning home with hundreds of thousands of their brethren--say they have been on the run long enough. Now they want to go home.

The Times dispatched Johannesburg bureau chief Bob Drogin and Berlin bureau chief Mary Williams Walsh to Zaire to cover the fall of Mobutu Sese Seko. This joint account of their adventure begins in Drogin's voice; the italics are Walsh. * This city was wild in the best of times. And this was the eve of war. Two days before, I had flown in a South African military cargo plane to Pointe-Noire to cover last-ditch peace talks between Zairian rulers and rebels.

Guerrillas from Laurent Kabila's rebel army marched triumphantly into this sprawling capital Saturday and quickly moved to take control of the city and the country, effectively ending a seven-month civil war in Africa's third-largest nation. A beaming Kabila told reporters at rebel headquarters in the southeastern city of Lubumbashi that he was assuming power immediately as the head of state of Zaire, which he called the Democratic Republic of Congo.

After more than three decades of ruthless and corrupt rule, President Mobutu Sese Seko fled with members of his family and key aides early Friday, apparently relinquishing power before an expected takeover of this nervous capital by advancing rebel soldiers. Africa's longest-serving despot was chauffeured from his palace shortly after dawn in a small car, rather than his usual stretch limousine, in a heavily guarded motorcade of about 10 vehicles, witnesses said.

Fearful of growing chaos and a widening war, the United Nations safely evacuated the last international aid workers from this embattled city Saturday after bands of rebel fighters backed by Rwandan government soldiers routed the Zairian army and captured the key border enclave. The fall of Goma, and the emergency withdrawal of about 130 terrified expatriates by road to nearby Rwanda, mean that no U.N.

Backing down from earlier assertions that it had nothing to do with alleged massacres of Rwandan refugees, Congo's government now acknowledges that some may have been killed in cross-fire during the recent civil war. President Laurent Kabila's government is hoping that the admission, while far from an acknowledgment that his forces committed atrocities, is enough to secure aid for his ravaged land during a visit today by envoy Bill Richardson, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Foreigners fleeing fighting in the capital, Brazzaville, said a private militia had gained the upper hand after four days of street clashes with government forces. What began as an attempt by government forces to disarm members of the 5,000-strong militia had evolved into anarchy and a full-scale battle for control of the city, the witnesses said. In Washington, the State Department ordered the departure from Brazzaville of all nonessential U.S.

Rebel leader Laurent Kabila, responding to a plea from the United Nations, agreed to delay a threatened attack on the nation's largest refugee camp. Kabila had threatened to assault the Tingi-Tingi camp, which is on the rebels' northern front, this week unless the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees drove out Rwandans he says are armed by the Zairian government.

Fresh gun battles and occasional shelling threatened Thursday to derail a cease-fire between soldiers and a private militia, while French troops scrambled to rescue foreigners still caught in the anarchy of this Central African country. While the fierce battles of the past week had subsided, fighting still shook the capital, Brazzaville, gaining in intensity through the afternoon. Both sides appeared to be girding for further clashes.

The two men battling for control of this Central African country ordered their forces to lay down their weapons Wednesday, and despite occasional gunfire in the capital, the cease-fire appeared to be taking hold. Earlier orders from the two leaders had done little to calm the violence in Brazzaville. Mortars, grenades and machine-gun fire pounded the capital into the evening, raising questions over whether President Pascal Lissouba and Gen. Denis Sassou-Nguesso could control their fighters.

A U.S. military plane flew 30 Americans and 24 other people out of troubled Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo on Tuesday, but no decision was immediately made to evacuate the estimated 64 Americans remaining there, the Pentagon said. The evacuees were flown to Gabon on a C-130 that carried a U.S. military team to the Republic of Congo capital from Germany earlier in the day.

French paratroopers poured out of the skies, reinforcing 450 soldiers in Brazzaville, and France was expected to have 1,200 soldiers in the capital of its former colony by today to rescue foreigners caught by fighting. About 350 foreigners were rescued before the evacuation was disrupted by the fifth day of clashes between troops loyal to President Pascal Lissouba and militia members supporting former leader Gen. Denis Sassou-Nguesso.

Foreigners fleeing fighting in the capital, Brazzaville, said a private militia had gained the upper hand after four days of street clashes with government forces. What began as an attempt by government forces to disarm members of the 5,000-strong militia had evolved into anarchy and a full-scale battle for control of the city, the witnesses said. In Washington, the State Department ordered the departure from Brazzaville of all nonessential U.S.

Backing down from earlier assertions that it had nothing to do with alleged massacres of Rwandan refugees, Congo's government now acknowledges that some may have been killed in cross-fire during the recent civil war. President Laurent Kabila's government is hoping that the admission, while far from an acknowledgment that his forces committed atrocities, is enough to secure aid for his ravaged land during a visit today by envoy Bill Richardson, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Rebels advanced Thursday toward Kisangani, Zaire's third-largest city, gaining ground in their battle to oust President Mobutu Sese Seko. But while rebel leader Laurent Desire Kabila said his forces could take Kisangani quickly, he said he would prefer to negotiate for Mobutu's resignation. Kabila had earlier given Prime Minister Leon Kengo wa Dondo's government until Feb. 21 to get rid of Mobutu. He said his forces would step up their attacks if Mobutu did not step down.

Rebel forces in eastern Zaire have achieved major territorial gains in the past week and now, for the first time, appear to seriously threaten the government of one of Africa's largest nations. United Nations officials, diplomats and military experts who closely follow the war say the guerrillas have smashed a long-promised counteroffensive launched with much fanfare Jan. 20 by Zairian troops and several hundred mercenaries, mostly French and Serb.

Laurent Kabila, the guerrilla leader-turned-president, appointed the bulk of his interim government early today, reserving the most powerful portfolios for his key advisors and abolishing the post of prime minister. Kabila's chief political rival, Etienne Tshisekedi, was not among the 13 names announced to reporters by a spokesman shortly before 1 a.m. The spokesman said 20 people will ultimately be in the Cabinet, but it is highly unlikely that Tshisekedi will now join.

Fresh from his triumphant takeover of this benighted nation, Laurent Kabila failed for the second day Wednesday to form a new government as he and his aides sparred with the capital's bitterly divided but deeply entrenched political leadership. Kabila, who flew unannounced into Kinshasa after dark Tuesday, did not emerge or issue any statements Wednesday from his new headquarters at the plush riverside residence formerly used by Zairian prime ministers.