UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
6 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review for Dec. 2, 2004
*Original in French
Today's press is filled with comments on reports of the presence of Rwandan troops on Congolese soil, after Kigali has announced it wants to neutralise Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwandan rebels based in eastern DRC. The papers also quote various reactions condemning Rwanda's intervention in the DRC.
Today's press is filled with comments on reports of the presence of Rwandan troops on Congolese soil, after Kigali has announced it wants to neutralise Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwandan rebels based in eastern DRC. The papers also quote various reactions condemning Rwanda's intervention in the DRC.
'This information is now known to be true ' that Rwandan President Paul Kagame's troops have once again crossed the border, attacking the DRC by invading North Kivu,' writes LE PHARE, stressing that the Rwandan leader, in an address to the Senate in Kigali, ostentatiously confirmed this attack. The paper notes that MONUC has also said it has spotted a group of suspected Rwandan soldiers in the east of the DRC. According to LE PALMARES, the Rwandan soldiers on Tuesday torched seven villages north of Goma, killing 19 Congolese civilians.
LE PALMARES claims to know the reason why 'the butcher of Kigali' openly declared war against the DRC. According to the paper, 'the arrogance and cynicism with which he announced the presence of his troops in the DRC' can be explained by the fact that he was 'doped' by 'his surprising and unexpected admission into the Francophone Countries Organisation.' 'Cherished by Americans and now getting in France's good graces, nothing can stop Kagame's Hitler-like folly,' the paper concludes.
Yet, several reactions from members of the international community unanimously condemn Rwandan intervention in the DRC. LA REFERENCE PLUS quotes the US ambassador to the DRC as condemning 'Kagame's unilateral military initiative.' Mr. Roger Meece told the press his country has been 'sending clear messages to ensure respect of international commitments and agreements signed recently and in the past.'
Also, the International Committee To Support the Transition (ICST) has in a statement called for respect of the inviolability of the territorial integrity of the DRC, LE POTENTIEL notes. Quoting the statement, the paper says the ICST condemned 'any action from inside or outside aiming to undermine the transition process in the DRC and efforts to build a lasting peace in the region.'
In a piece titled 'Ruberwa, Monsignor Monsengwo, the US ambassador, MONUC, all say no to Kagame,' L'AVENIR speaks about a 'wave of protests against Kigali's ghastly project.' For example, the paper quotes Vice President Azarias Ruberwa who sees the Interahamwe issue as crucial but says 'it does mean Rwanda can enter Congo to disarm these rebels; there is a line one should not cross so easily.' Such an action cannot be undertaken without the prior consent of - or consultation with the DRC, Ruberwa says. The Archbishop of Kisangani, Monsignor Monsengwo, also President of the Episcopal Conference in Congo, warns that ' peace will not be achieved in the Great Lakes region so long as leaders continue to sign documents that nobody respects.'
MONUC has denounced Rwanda's attitude as 'unacceptable', L'AVENIR reports. According to the paper, the disarmament of Interahamwe and other constitutes 'a pretext for Kagame to prevent the holding of elections in Congo and loot its natural resources.'
Looking at this wave of disapproval, LA TEMPETE DE TROPIQUES writes that the Rwandan leader is under 'cross fires', which shows that 'nobody approves Kagame's decision to hunt down the Interahamwe on Congolese territory.'
On the Congolese Government's attitude following the Rwandan threats, LE POTENTIEL regrets that members of the Executive have been reacting 'in an uncoordinated manner,' giving one the impression that the ideal of 'governmental cohesion, which the architects of the Global and All Inclusive Agreement sought to promote, is still far from becoming a reality among the officials of the transition.' The paper deplores 'the lack of an official reaction by the Government' as a whole in the face of the Rwandan threats. Urging not to yield to panic, the paper suggests 'the government should meet whenever arises a situation that threatens the territorial integrity and the security of the people, as this would be a deterrent element, a sign of cohesion and political responsibility on the part of the Executive.'
In a different development, LE PHARE notes that MONUC has reminded the Transitional Government that 'the delays in the integration of the army and in the disarmament of Congolese and foreign armed groups are the source of many problems in the DRC.' MONUC spokesman Mamadou Bah made these remarks Wednesday during the Mission's weekly news briefing. LE PHARE welcomes the fact that 'MONUC is finally talking tough on the Government's perplexing attitude about the integration of the army.'
LE PHARE also publishes the message of the Special Representative of UN Secretary-General for the DRC, William Swing, on the occasion of World HIV/AIDS Day celebrated on December 1st. In this message, Mr. Swing invites, among others, 'MONUC personnel to redouble their efforts by firmly committing themselves to reducing the discrimination facing women and so that million of infected adults and children may live in dignity.'
LE PALMARES claims to know the reason why 'the butcher of Kigali' openly declared war against the DRC. According to the paper, 'the arrogance and cynicism with which he announced the presence of his troops in the DRC' can be explained by the fact that he was 'doped' by 'his surprising and unexpected admission into the Francophone Countries Organisation.' 'Cherished by Americans and now getting in France's good graces, nothing can stop Kagame's Hitler-like folly,' the paper concludes.
Yet, several reactions from members of the international community unanimously condemn Rwandan intervention in the DRC. LA REFERENCE PLUS quotes the US ambassador to the DRC as condemning 'Kagame's unilateral military initiative.' Mr. Roger Meece told the press his country has been 'sending clear messages to ensure respect of international commitments and agreements signed recently and in the past.'
Also, the International Committee To Support the Transition (ICST) has in a statement called for respect of the inviolability of the territorial integrity of the DRC, LE POTENTIEL notes. Quoting the statement, the paper says the ICST condemned 'any action from inside or outside aiming to undermine the transition process in the DRC and efforts to build a lasting peace in the region.'
In a piece titled 'Ruberwa, Monsignor Monsengwo, the US ambassador, MONUC, all say no to Kagame,' L'AVENIR speaks about a 'wave of protests against Kigali's ghastly project.' For example, the paper quotes Vice President Azarias Ruberwa who sees the Interahamwe issue as crucial but says 'it does mean Rwanda can enter Congo to disarm these rebels; there is a line one should not cross so easily.' Such an action cannot be undertaken without the prior consent of - or consultation with the DRC, Ruberwa says. The Archbishop of Kisangani, Monsignor Monsengwo, also President of the Episcopal Conference in Congo, warns that ' peace will not be achieved in the Great Lakes region so long as leaders continue to sign documents that nobody respects.'
MONUC has denounced Rwanda's attitude as 'unacceptable', L'AVENIR reports. According to the paper, the disarmament of Interahamwe and other constitutes 'a pretext for Kagame to prevent the holding of elections in Congo and loot its natural resources.'
Looking at this wave of disapproval, LA TEMPETE DE TROPIQUES writes that the Rwandan leader is under 'cross fires', which shows that 'nobody approves Kagame's decision to hunt down the Interahamwe on Congolese territory.'
On the Congolese Government's attitude following the Rwandan threats, LE POTENTIEL regrets that members of the Executive have been reacting 'in an uncoordinated manner,' giving one the impression that the ideal of 'governmental cohesion, which the architects of the Global and All Inclusive Agreement sought to promote, is still far from becoming a reality among the officials of the transition.' The paper deplores 'the lack of an official reaction by the Government' as a whole in the face of the Rwandan threats. Urging not to yield to panic, the paper suggests 'the government should meet whenever arises a situation that threatens the territorial integrity and the security of the people, as this would be a deterrent element, a sign of cohesion and political responsibility on the part of the Executive.'
In a different development, LE PHARE notes that MONUC has reminded the Transitional Government that 'the delays in the integration of the army and in the disarmament of Congolese and foreign armed groups are the source of many problems in the DRC.' MONUC spokesman Mamadou Bah made these remarks Wednesday during the Mission's weekly news briefing. LE PHARE welcomes the fact that 'MONUC is finally talking tough on the Government's perplexing attitude about the integration of the army.'
LE PHARE also publishes the message of the Special Representative of UN Secretary-General for the DRC, William Swing, on the occasion of World HIV/AIDS Day celebrated on December 1st. In this message, Mr. Swing invites, among others, 'MONUC personnel to redouble their efforts by firmly committing themselves to reducing the discrimination facing women and so that million of infected adults and children may live in dignity.'
