Windhoek - Southern African heads of state began talks in Namibia yesterday to secure a free trade pact and discuss the region's wars. But efforts to save a collapsing peace deal in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were threatened by the absence of President Laurent Kabila.
The presidents of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi were all in the Namibian capital, Windhoek, for the two-day meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). But Mr Kabila's absence meant there was scant chance of any headway in ending the Congo's civil war, which has sucked in troops from six other countries in the region.
SADC leaders were also due to conclude a free trade pact which economists say is crucial for the region's growth and which arises out of a protocol adopted two years ago.