A TWO-DAY African summit that opened in Nairobi yesterday will discuss the turmoil in eastern Zaire despite Kinshasa's "regrettable" decision not to send a representative, President Daniel arap Moi of Kenya told the opening session.
But he called for a change in approach from the heads of state, who are sharply divided in their sympathies, saying: "The Zairean problem is a sensitive and internal matter to that country... our emphasis should therefore shift to helping Zaire."
President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, wearing a patterned sports shirt that contrasted with the sober suits and ties of the other heads of state, made what appeared to be a largely ceremonial appearance, his first at such a summit.
The others attending the summit are presidents Issaias Afeworki of Eritrea, Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, Pasteur Bizimungu of Rwanda, Frederick Chiluba of Zambia, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda; the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Mr Meles Zenawi, and the Cameroonian Foreign Minister, Mr Ferdinand Oyono, whose country currently chairs the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
Also in attendance are the founding Tanzanian president, Mr Julius Nyerere, who is acting as mediator on Burundi, and the OAU Secretary, Gen Salim Ahmed Salim.
Burundi was not invited, leading to a protest from the Tutsi-dominated regime of Major Pierre Buyoya.
Major Buyoya seized power in Bujumbura on July 25th, prompting a regional summit which met on July 31st to impose an economic blockade of the tiny central African country in a bid to force peace talks with Hutu guerrillas engaged in a three-year war with the Tutsi-dominated army.
Many of the leaders here are believed to favour lifting the blockade - Major Buyoya says he will not talk unless this is done - and it will be reviewed by the heads of state.
Kinshasa has accused Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda of aiding Tutsi-led rebels who have conquered a swathe of territory in eastern Zaire 300 miles long, displacing hundreds of thousands of Rwandan and Burundian refugees and local villagers.
Kigali, Bujumbura and Kampala all deny the charges.
President Moi said: "There have been further incursions into Zaire territory, including the area to the north. I believe that violation of territorial integrity in the region only serves to prolong the suffering of the people in the areas affected."