UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review - 28/4
*Original in French
The on-going political transition in the DRC, the arrival of European Union officials (Louis Michel and Javier Solana), the Security Council's upcoming mission and MONUC's weekly press conference are the main subjects broached by today's Kinshasa press.
The on-going political transition in the DRC, the arrival of European Union officials (Louis Michel and Javier Solana), the Security Council's upcoming mission and MONUC's weekly press conference are the main subjects broached by today's Kinshasa press.
'RCD threatens again to pull out of the transition process,' L'AVENIR announces.
Citing 'reliable sources', the paper reports that the party's ' senior members close to Kigali consider that the initial draft of the future Constitution (now under examination in Parliament) failed to address certain key issues'. According to the paper, 'These issues include [the] immediate [introduction of] federalism and the notion of [protection for] minorities,' the paper stresses.
Referring to the session of the ad hoc commission on the apportioning, among the components, of posts in government-run enterprises, diplomatic missions and provincial administration, LE POTENTIEL titles 'UDPS and PALU not interested.' According to the paper, 'these two heavyweight [opposition parties] consider that this is no longer a moment for posts sharing. They have their eyes set on the future elections and nothing else interests them,' explains the paper, noting that UDPS and PALU 'call for those still eager for the privileges of transitional government to concentrate more on the organization of elections than the quest for posts.'
Regarding the electoral process, LA REFERENCE PLUS, citing the embassy of Benin in the DRC, announces '650 Beninese in the DRC to protect the elections.'
'Here we go moving to elections!' announces L'AVENIR, which reports the launch of operations to test out electronic procedures for voter identification and enrolment. 'The aim was to check if the electoral devices worked effectively and would permit to get the desired results' explains the paper, noting that 'long queues were visible in front of the rooms that were used as mock polling stations.'
'Louis Michel and Javier Solana: a Herculean diplomacy in Kinshasa', titles LE PALMARES, referring to the European Union envoys' visit to Kinshasa. 'The two personalities will develop intense political activity aiming to defuse the explosive situation created by UDPS and PALU's threats [to block the transition process] as of June 30.' But 'many doubt if [Michel and Solana] will succeed in their mission,' the paper says.
Likewise, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES titles 'Louis Michel and Javier Solana to stimulate the transition.' The paper hopes that 'after listening to all actors, [the two European officials] will succeed in reconciling the different viewpoints.' However, the paper says, 'If all the Congolese players do not look in the same direction, then transition will be at risk.'
'A delegation from the UN Security Council is expected in Kinshasa,' LE POTENTIEL announces. Quoting Ambassador Wang of China, which presides the Security Council, the paper writes 'the Council discussed the possibility of sending some of its ambassadors to Kinshasa. The Council will decide on the matter later.'
LE PALMARES also quotes Ambassador Wang in saying that 'The [Security] Council held consultations on the DRC where the transition process has now entered a crucial phase.'
'The CIAT's shortcomings exposed,' titles LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, referring to the International Committee In Support of the Transition. Citing a critical analysis paper, the paper writes 'The international community bears the prime responsibility for the failure of the peace process in the DRC, from the facilitation of the Inter Congolese political negotiations [of Sun City] to this day. '
Reporting on MONUC's weekly press conference held Wednesday, L'OBSERVATEUR announces 'Tshinja-Tshinja, the cut-throat, now under arrest in Kinshasa.' Quoting Fernando Castanon, the head of MONUC Human Rights Section, the paper writes, this 'arrest is in connection with the massacres perpetrated in February 2004 in North Katanga, more precisely in Kitenge and Kabongo,'
According to Kemal Saïki, the head of MONUC Public Information, ' a group of bandits, known as 'The Rasta', are currently spreading terror in the territory of Walungu in South Kivu,' the paper reports.
Quoting a MONUC press release, which it publishes in full, LE PALMARES reports that the UN mission 'has launched a [military] operation to assist the Congolese army in Ituri.'
On insecurity in general, LE POTENTIEL reports that 'five Congolese journalists are taken hostage by Maï-Maï' fighters in Katanga province.
'These journalists were part of an official delegation coming from Kinshasa and led by Pastor Ngoy Mulunda,' who has been encouraging ex-combatants in the region to join the disarmament process, LE PHARE points out. The paper notes that 'Maï-Maï candidates for demobilization are unhappy because they think the Kinshasa government and its partners in the disarmament and demobilisation programme are offering them little' in exchange.
Citing 'reliable sources', the paper reports that the party's ' senior members close to Kigali consider that the initial draft of the future Constitution (now under examination in Parliament) failed to address certain key issues'. According to the paper, 'These issues include [the] immediate [introduction of] federalism and the notion of [protection for] minorities,' the paper stresses.
Referring to the session of the ad hoc commission on the apportioning, among the components, of posts in government-run enterprises, diplomatic missions and provincial administration, LE POTENTIEL titles 'UDPS and PALU not interested.' According to the paper, 'these two heavyweight [opposition parties] consider that this is no longer a moment for posts sharing. They have their eyes set on the future elections and nothing else interests them,' explains the paper, noting that UDPS and PALU 'call for those still eager for the privileges of transitional government to concentrate more on the organization of elections than the quest for posts.'
Regarding the electoral process, LA REFERENCE PLUS, citing the embassy of Benin in the DRC, announces '650 Beninese in the DRC to protect the elections.'
'Here we go moving to elections!' announces L'AVENIR, which reports the launch of operations to test out electronic procedures for voter identification and enrolment. 'The aim was to check if the electoral devices worked effectively and would permit to get the desired results' explains the paper, noting that 'long queues were visible in front of the rooms that were used as mock polling stations.'
'Louis Michel and Javier Solana: a Herculean diplomacy in Kinshasa', titles LE PALMARES, referring to the European Union envoys' visit to Kinshasa. 'The two personalities will develop intense political activity aiming to defuse the explosive situation created by UDPS and PALU's threats [to block the transition process] as of June 30.' But 'many doubt if [Michel and Solana] will succeed in their mission,' the paper says.
Likewise, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES titles 'Louis Michel and Javier Solana to stimulate the transition.' The paper hopes that 'after listening to all actors, [the two European officials] will succeed in reconciling the different viewpoints.' However, the paper says, 'If all the Congolese players do not look in the same direction, then transition will be at risk.'
'A delegation from the UN Security Council is expected in Kinshasa,' LE POTENTIEL announces. Quoting Ambassador Wang of China, which presides the Security Council, the paper writes 'the Council discussed the possibility of sending some of its ambassadors to Kinshasa. The Council will decide on the matter later.'
LE PALMARES also quotes Ambassador Wang in saying that 'The [Security] Council held consultations on the DRC where the transition process has now entered a crucial phase.'
'The CIAT's shortcomings exposed,' titles LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, referring to the International Committee In Support of the Transition. Citing a critical analysis paper, the paper writes 'The international community bears the prime responsibility for the failure of the peace process in the DRC, from the facilitation of the Inter Congolese political negotiations [of Sun City] to this day. '
Reporting on MONUC's weekly press conference held Wednesday, L'OBSERVATEUR announces 'Tshinja-Tshinja, the cut-throat, now under arrest in Kinshasa.' Quoting Fernando Castanon, the head of MONUC Human Rights Section, the paper writes, this 'arrest is in connection with the massacres perpetrated in February 2004 in North Katanga, more precisely in Kitenge and Kabongo,'
According to Kemal Saïki, the head of MONUC Public Information, ' a group of bandits, known as 'The Rasta', are currently spreading terror in the territory of Walungu in South Kivu,' the paper reports.
Quoting a MONUC press release, which it publishes in full, LE PALMARES reports that the UN mission 'has launched a [military] operation to assist the Congolese army in Ituri.'
On insecurity in general, LE POTENTIEL reports that 'five Congolese journalists are taken hostage by Maï-Maï' fighters in Katanga province.
'These journalists were part of an official delegation coming from Kinshasa and led by Pastor Ngoy Mulunda,' who has been encouraging ex-combatants in the region to join the disarmament process, LE PHARE points out. The paper notes that 'Maï-Maï candidates for demobilization are unhappy because they think the Kinshasa government and its partners in the disarmament and demobilisation programme are offering them little' in exchange.
