UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
6 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review for Dec. 3, 2004
*Original in French
Friday's press widely comments on Congolese President Joseph Kabila's first official reaction, following reports of the presence of Rwandan troops on DRC soil.
Friday's press widely comments on Congolese President Joseph Kabila's first official reaction, following reports of the presence of Rwandan troops on DRC soil.
'Kabila puts the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) on general alert,' LE POTENTIEL titles. This is in reference to President's Thursday address to the nation concerning 'Rwanda's aggression against the DRC.' The Rwandan President is on record as threatening to send his troops in eastern DRC to neutralise Rwandan rebels of the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) based there. But according to LE POTENTIEL, there is no longer any doubt Rwandan troops are already in eastern Congo. This why, the paper says, President Kabila has decided to use all necessary means to defend the country's territorial integrity. 'The army is on alert and deployment of its units is underway in order to reinforce the defence of the territory in the east, kick the forces of aggression out of our borders, take on the armed groups present on our territory and ensure the security of the populations and their goods,' the paper quotes the head of State as saying in his message.
'Joseph Kabila counter-attacks,' titles L'AVENIR, pointing out that 'it is a very serious moment.' Commenting Kabila's 'unequivocal' message, the paper writes: ' There was no whining, rather he used the only language that the attacker, Kagame, can understand, namely, the language of force. And in this showdown, the paper says, shows his resolve. 'Nothing will stop us,' he warned, convinced that 'the rightness of our cause will lead us to final victory.' Kabila accused Rwanda of bad faith in dealing with the issue of Interahamwe. 'Rwanda's behaviour is not surprising to those watching the process in the Great Lakes who must have noticed that each time we made a step forward, Kigali would do everything to undermine our efforts.'
According to L'OBSERVATEUR, the DRC and Rwanda are already at war. Citing the President's address, the paper writes: 'Joseph Kabila on Thursday, December 2, officially announced that Rwandan army troops have entered the Congolese territory not to hunt for animals to eat but make war with the intention to subdue us, establish their hegemony over our country and, in the process, continue to loot Congolese natural resources.'
As the paper sees it, Rwandan troops' invasion of the DRC raises the problem of how the international community understands the role of MONUC in the country. It wonders: 'How can Rwandan troops, in violation of all agreements and the Charters of the UN and the African Union, and under the nose of MONUC, enter the DRC without MONUC doing the job it is here to do, namely, protect Congolese borders and those of our eastern neighbours''
According to LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, MONUC has also confirmed Rwandan military presence in the DRC. The paper quotes MONUC spokesman Mamadou Bah who said the mission had 'increasing corroborated indications tending to establish the presence of Rwandan troops in Congo.' According to the paper, these indications are in fact aerial pictures of military camps and soldiers aboard new vehicles, according to the paper.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES also reports ongoing fighting between FDLR forces and some unidentified troops near the Virunga Park in North Kivu. The clashes have caused an important movement of fleeing population, says the paper, adding that about 400 families are reported to have left Lubero for Mikiri.
In an interview published in LA REFERENCE PLUS, Mme Justine M'poyo Kasa Vubu, leader of the Mouvement des Démocrates and president of the Fondation President Kasa Vubu, demands that President Kabila and his four Vice Presidents resign because of their 'complicity in the tragedy unfolding in eastern DRC.' She says she stands 'ready to lead the country and restore its lost dignity.' Mme M'poyo Kasa Vubu also wonders about the role of MONUC, which ' sees Rwandan troops one moment and sees no Rwandans the next moment.'
In another development, L'AVENIR announces an imminent government reshuffle following the suspension of the six ministers accused of involvement in the mismanagement of State-owned companies. The paper quotes 'reliable sources' as saying President Joseph Kabila wrote to the four Vice Presidents, asking them to propose new candidates to replace the suspended ministers.
'Joseph Kabila counter-attacks,' titles L'AVENIR, pointing out that 'it is a very serious moment.' Commenting Kabila's 'unequivocal' message, the paper writes: ' There was no whining, rather he used the only language that the attacker, Kagame, can understand, namely, the language of force. And in this showdown, the paper says, shows his resolve. 'Nothing will stop us,' he warned, convinced that 'the rightness of our cause will lead us to final victory.' Kabila accused Rwanda of bad faith in dealing with the issue of Interahamwe. 'Rwanda's behaviour is not surprising to those watching the process in the Great Lakes who must have noticed that each time we made a step forward, Kigali would do everything to undermine our efforts.'
According to L'OBSERVATEUR, the DRC and Rwanda are already at war. Citing the President's address, the paper writes: 'Joseph Kabila on Thursday, December 2, officially announced that Rwandan army troops have entered the Congolese territory not to hunt for animals to eat but make war with the intention to subdue us, establish their hegemony over our country and, in the process, continue to loot Congolese natural resources.'
As the paper sees it, Rwandan troops' invasion of the DRC raises the problem of how the international community understands the role of MONUC in the country. It wonders: 'How can Rwandan troops, in violation of all agreements and the Charters of the UN and the African Union, and under the nose of MONUC, enter the DRC without MONUC doing the job it is here to do, namely, protect Congolese borders and those of our eastern neighbours''
According to LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, MONUC has also confirmed Rwandan military presence in the DRC. The paper quotes MONUC spokesman Mamadou Bah who said the mission had 'increasing corroborated indications tending to establish the presence of Rwandan troops in Congo.' According to the paper, these indications are in fact aerial pictures of military camps and soldiers aboard new vehicles, according to the paper.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES also reports ongoing fighting between FDLR forces and some unidentified troops near the Virunga Park in North Kivu. The clashes have caused an important movement of fleeing population, says the paper, adding that about 400 families are reported to have left Lubero for Mikiri.
In an interview published in LA REFERENCE PLUS, Mme Justine M'poyo Kasa Vubu, leader of the Mouvement des Démocrates and president of the Fondation President Kasa Vubu, demands that President Kabila and his four Vice Presidents resign because of their 'complicity in the tragedy unfolding in eastern DRC.' She says she stands 'ready to lead the country and restore its lost dignity.' Mme M'poyo Kasa Vubu also wonders about the role of MONUC, which ' sees Rwandan troops one moment and sees no Rwandans the next moment.'
In another development, L'AVENIR announces an imminent government reshuffle following the suspension of the six ministers accused of involvement in the mismanagement of State-owned companies. The paper quotes 'reliable sources' as saying President Joseph Kabila wrote to the four Vice Presidents, asking them to propose new candidates to replace the suspended ministers.
