UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
5 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review
Most of today's press comments on the 'normalisation' of relations between the International Committee In Support of the Transition (ICST) and the DRC President, as well as on a reported obstacle to the setting up of the provincial administration.
In an article titled 'Joseph Kabila and ambassadors of ICST patched up their differences yesterday', LE PALMARES recalls that disagreement between the two institutions arose from an ultimatum-letter to the Head of State by the ICST regarding the nomination of provincial governors. 'Joseph Kabila, unhappy to see the ICST going as far as giving him injunctions and undermining his authority, instructed his spokesman to condemn the ICST's tendency to control everything and to give orders to the Head of State,' says the paper in a commentary on a 'struggle of unpredictable consequences.' According to the paper, relations are now normalised, because 'during a face-to-face meeting held yesterday at the Palais du Peuple, the two sides mended their differences.'
According to L'AVENIR, the ICST-Kabila meeting was part of ICST's monthly consultations with the Transitional Government. The paper says the two parties discussed 'nominations in the provincial administration and foreign service, the repatriation of Interahamwe militias and other negative forces active in the east of the DRC, as well as the organisation of elections.' The ICST welcomed the efforts accomplished toward the nomination of the provincial administration, the paper reports.
On the provincial administration, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES reveals a 'deadlock' in respect to the province of South Kivu. According to the paper, 'Civil Society absolutely wants to administer this province, which was attributed to the Political Opposition, according to the latest distribution that was described as final.' Yet, the paper notes, 'The RCD remains liable to reject such a demand, given its earlier rejection of a proposal to attribute South Kivu to Civil Society accused of creating divisions among the population.' The paper also says: 'natives of Bandundu living in Kinshasa have expressed their wish not to see their province administered by the MLC.'
Meanwhile, the Maï Maï have denounced a 'shameful cheating' consisting in 'excluding' them from 'the sharing out of posts within the provincial administration,' LA REFERENCE PLUS reports. The paper explains that, in particular, the Maï Maï denounce the fact that 'personalities not belonging to the Resistance Movement were named by the Government to occupy the posts reserved for the Maï Maï.'
According to LE PHARE, in this transition process, 'all parties are to blame for the deadlock.' The paper notes that the 'transitional process is always blocked', adding metaphorically: 'the train has never really pulled out of the station.' In an additional commentary, the paper says: ' a serious diagnosis is needed if the causes of the impasse are to be identified and ways out proposed.'
LE POTENTIEL announces that 'the nomination of [provincial] governors and a Cabinet reshuffle' are expected today. According to the paper, today's Council of Ministers meeting will 'finalise negotiations on the sharing of posts of provincial Vice-Governors, but mainly the nomination of Governors.' The paper hopes this meeting will help 'resolve a situation that, for many months, has kept the country in suspense.'
On the Kinshasa meeting of the leaders of militias of Ituri, L'OBSERVATEUR recalls the joint ultimatum by the Government and MONUC demanding that absent armed groups 'present themselves in Kinshasa unconditionally.' According to the paper, the Government and MONUC have conferred to ensure that the leader of FNI/FRPI and three other warlords come to Kinshasa and give their support to the Engagement Act that will be signed by all at the end of the consultations.
This meeting has just been extended for two days, ' as the Government wants absolutely the presence of the other warlords that have stayed way from the meeting since Monday,' LE PHARE says.
Reporting on yesterday's discussions at the meeting, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES says: 'the belligerent parties in Ituri want guarantees for their personal security.' According to the paper, they also 'want to be given posts in the diplomacy and in Government-owned companies, given that there are no more vacant positions within the Government and other transitional institutions.'
According to L'AVENIR, the ICST-Kabila meeting was part of ICST's monthly consultations with the Transitional Government. The paper says the two parties discussed 'nominations in the provincial administration and foreign service, the repatriation of Interahamwe militias and other negative forces active in the east of the DRC, as well as the organisation of elections.' The ICST welcomed the efforts accomplished toward the nomination of the provincial administration, the paper reports.
On the provincial administration, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES reveals a 'deadlock' in respect to the province of South Kivu. According to the paper, 'Civil Society absolutely wants to administer this province, which was attributed to the Political Opposition, according to the latest distribution that was described as final.' Yet, the paper notes, 'The RCD remains liable to reject such a demand, given its earlier rejection of a proposal to attribute South Kivu to Civil Society accused of creating divisions among the population.' The paper also says: 'natives of Bandundu living in Kinshasa have expressed their wish not to see their province administered by the MLC.'
Meanwhile, the Maï Maï have denounced a 'shameful cheating' consisting in 'excluding' them from 'the sharing out of posts within the provincial administration,' LA REFERENCE PLUS reports. The paper explains that, in particular, the Maï Maï denounce the fact that 'personalities not belonging to the Resistance Movement were named by the Government to occupy the posts reserved for the Maï Maï.'
According to LE PHARE, in this transition process, 'all parties are to blame for the deadlock.' The paper notes that the 'transitional process is always blocked', adding metaphorically: 'the train has never really pulled out of the station.' In an additional commentary, the paper says: ' a serious diagnosis is needed if the causes of the impasse are to be identified and ways out proposed.'
LE POTENTIEL announces that 'the nomination of [provincial] governors and a Cabinet reshuffle' are expected today. According to the paper, today's Council of Ministers meeting will 'finalise negotiations on the sharing of posts of provincial Vice-Governors, but mainly the nomination of Governors.' The paper hopes this meeting will help 'resolve a situation that, for many months, has kept the country in suspense.'
On the Kinshasa meeting of the leaders of militias of Ituri, L'OBSERVATEUR recalls the joint ultimatum by the Government and MONUC demanding that absent armed groups 'present themselves in Kinshasa unconditionally.' According to the paper, the Government and MONUC have conferred to ensure that the leader of FNI/FRPI and three other warlords come to Kinshasa and give their support to the Engagement Act that will be signed by all at the end of the consultations.
This meeting has just been extended for two days, ' as the Government wants absolutely the presence of the other warlords that have stayed way from the meeting since Monday,' LE PHARE says.
Reporting on yesterday's discussions at the meeting, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES says: 'the belligerent parties in Ituri want guarantees for their personal security.' According to the paper, they also 'want to be given posts in the diplomacy and in Government-owned companies, given that there are no more vacant positions within the Government and other transitional institutions.'
