UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review
*Original in French
Much of today's press is devoted to the report submitted to Parliament by the head of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) requesting an extension of time for the transition.
Much of today's press is devoted to the report submitted to Parliament by the head of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) requesting an extension of time for the transition.
'Transition: the IEC officially requests an extension,' LE POTENTIEL titles.
The paper reports that 'Father Malu Apollinaire Malu Malu, president of the Independent Electoral Commission, on Thursday April 28, submitted to the respective offices of the National Assembly and Senate his technical report on the organisation of future elections.' According to the paper, 'It is now for the National Assembly and Senate members to examine this request and respond adequately.'
In the same tone, L'AVENIR titles 'Extension of the transition: the president of the IEC refers the issue to Parliament.' Citing the Senate President Bishop Pierre Marini Bodho, the paper writes, 'This request will be examine according to the Parliament's rules and regulations and the Constitution's provisions.'
'This request is just a proposal that may be accepted or rejected by the Senate and National Assembly,' L'AVENIR quotes the IEC president as saying.
'Malu Malu passes the buck to Parliament,' according to LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES. The paper quotes some MPs as saying 'Father Malu Malu should step up to his responsibility by going straight to a plenary session of the two chambers, instead of going via their respective offices.'
In a column titled 'Father Malu Malu gives the reasons for the extension,' LE FORUM DES AS quotes the Independent Electoral Commission president as saying 'whoever has been following the transition process in the DRC knows there are legal and logistical reasons that are compelling. However, the paper assumes that 'another reason for [Malu Malu's] request could be because the international community is yet to release the funds it has pledged. Apparently, only 47% of the pledged money has been made available so far,' it adds.
'The reasons for this request remain a mystery', titles LE PHARE, which explains that 'Father Malu Malu made no comment other than reiterating it was not for him at this stage to disclose the content of his report.'
LE POTENTIEL, however, reports that Father Malu Malu 'simply pointed out that the Independent Electoral Commission would detail each of the reasons justifying a extension request.'
In a related development, LE PALMARES announces 'secrete negotiations on the DRC, in South Africa.' According to the paper, 'the DRC's President will participate, in South Africa, in secrete negotiations on the transition in the DRC, given the threats issued by [Etienne Tshisekedi's party] UDPS.' (Earlier this month, UDPS stated that the current transition would come to an end on June 30.)
Similarly, LE PHARE notes that 'South Africa is back at work.' According to the paper, 'it has become apparent over the course of this week that since the European Union is seen to waver, this should be compensated for with more involvement by South Africa, a co-mediator in the DRC peace process.'
The paper reports that 'Father Malu Apollinaire Malu Malu, president of the Independent Electoral Commission, on Thursday April 28, submitted to the respective offices of the National Assembly and Senate his technical report on the organisation of future elections.' According to the paper, 'It is now for the National Assembly and Senate members to examine this request and respond adequately.'
In the same tone, L'AVENIR titles 'Extension of the transition: the president of the IEC refers the issue to Parliament.' Citing the Senate President Bishop Pierre Marini Bodho, the paper writes, 'This request will be examine according to the Parliament's rules and regulations and the Constitution's provisions.'
'This request is just a proposal that may be accepted or rejected by the Senate and National Assembly,' L'AVENIR quotes the IEC president as saying.
'Malu Malu passes the buck to Parliament,' according to LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES. The paper quotes some MPs as saying 'Father Malu Malu should step up to his responsibility by going straight to a plenary session of the two chambers, instead of going via their respective offices.'
In a column titled 'Father Malu Malu gives the reasons for the extension,' LE FORUM DES AS quotes the Independent Electoral Commission president as saying 'whoever has been following the transition process in the DRC knows there are legal and logistical reasons that are compelling. However, the paper assumes that 'another reason for [Malu Malu's] request could be because the international community is yet to release the funds it has pledged. Apparently, only 47% of the pledged money has been made available so far,' it adds.
'The reasons for this request remain a mystery', titles LE PHARE, which explains that 'Father Malu Malu made no comment other than reiterating it was not for him at this stage to disclose the content of his report.'
LE POTENTIEL, however, reports that Father Malu Malu 'simply pointed out that the Independent Electoral Commission would detail each of the reasons justifying a extension request.'
In a related development, LE PALMARES announces 'secrete negotiations on the DRC, in South Africa.' According to the paper, 'the DRC's President will participate, in South Africa, in secrete negotiations on the transition in the DRC, given the threats issued by [Etienne Tshisekedi's party] UDPS.' (Earlier this month, UDPS stated that the current transition would come to an end on June 30.)
Similarly, LE PHARE notes that 'South Africa is back at work.' According to the paper, 'it has become apparent over the course of this week that since the European Union is seen to waver, this should be compensated for with more involvement by South Africa, a co-mediator in the DRC peace process.'
