UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
6 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review of October 4, 2004
*Original in French
Today's newspapers discuss various subjects including the strengthening of MONUC force by the UN Security Council and the start of the Congolese Supreme Court's new session.
Today's newspapers discuss various subjects including the strengthening of MONUC force by the UN Security Council and the start of the Congolese Supreme Court's new session.
On the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1565 on MONUC, LA REFERENCE PLUS notes that Kofi Annan is not satisfied with it. 'The Secretary-General had asked for 23,900 soldiers for MONUC, but the Security Council only offered a total of 16,700 troops,' the paper explains. 'The Security Council's decision to expand the force by 5,900 more troops - military and civil police - will contribute to improving the mission's hitherto insufficient operational capabilities,' the paper says. The 23,900 troops the UN Secretary-General asked for in his August report was the 'minimum required' to meet the many challenges facing the country, it adds. Under resolution 1565, MONUC's new mandate runs up to March 2005 and is expanded to include supporting the organisation of elections in the DRC, LA REFERENCE PLUS reports. Moreover, the resolution foresees the provision of attack helicopters to boost the peacekeepers' firepower, the paper adds.
However, L'AVENIR notes, increasing MONUC force does not mean exonerating Congolese from the responsibility they bear for ensuring the security of their territory, because 'MONUC is not deployed in every corner of the DRC.'
The DRC Supreme Court began it new session at the Palais du Peuple of Kinshasa on Saturday October 2. According to L'OBSERVATEUR, President Joseph Kabila presided over the opening ceremony, during which the general prosecutor of the Republic mentioned some shortcomings of the organic law of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). The paper says,' The IEC organic law could undergo some significant modifications so as to address the shortcomings, especially with respect to cases of electoral protest filed by different candidates as well as cases of electoral dispute.' It quotes the general prosecutor as pointing out that 'the law organising the IEC did not retain the term 'dispute' and yet it is intended to detect cases of fraud, irregularities and other disputes occurring before, during or after the elections.'
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES notes that during the open, solemn session, the president of the Supreme Court's address focused on the notions of the Court's 'consultative opinion' and 'appraisal of the conformity of laws to the Constitution.' Two specific cases have already been referred to the Supreme Court for its 'consultative opinion,' the paper points out. The two cases were about difficulties in interpreting articles 76 and 94 of the Transitional Constitution that confers upon the Head of State the power to appoint the senior functionaries of the State, the provincial governors and vice-governors, heads of State-owned companies, and about the President of the National Assembly's request concerning the draft law of amnesty. On the conformity of laws, the Supreme Court's session examined the constitutionality of the organic law of the High Authority of Media and the law of political parties, according to LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES.
The question of sharing of responsibilities within State-owned companies, the Central Bank and other national financial institutions, continues to attract several comments, announces LE POTENTIEL, noting that the sub-commission dealing with the issue has listed 32 'viable' companies to be shared among the components and entities. During the sub-commission's session of September 27, it was agreed that the 'sharing of responsibilities' would be achieved by consensus so as to enable the appointment of new heads of State-owned companies. 'But as soon as that agreement was recalled, members of the former-government component voiced their opposition to the sharing of responsibilities,' reports the paper. According to that component, 'the companies' heads should be selected by a special committee composed of representatives of the components and entities and those of national as well as international partners.'
There are 'persistent rumours about an imminent reshuffle of the presidential cabinet,' announces FORUM DES AS, saying that, during a news conference due today, the Head of State may or not conform those rumours.
Where have Nkunda and Mutebutsi gone' asks L'AVENIR, noting that since regular forces regained control over Bukavu and Minova, members of the public keep wondering about what may be these warlords' current fate. According to the paper, Laurent Nkunda, who was 'rumoured to be dead, is still alive and has even been seen in some circles in Goma,' while 'Colonel Mutebutsi is feared to have to have been killed by the attack on the Gatumba refugee camp,' but Rwandan authorities have denied that report.
However, L'AVENIR notes, increasing MONUC force does not mean exonerating Congolese from the responsibility they bear for ensuring the security of their territory, because 'MONUC is not deployed in every corner of the DRC.'
The DRC Supreme Court began it new session at the Palais du Peuple of Kinshasa on Saturday October 2. According to L'OBSERVATEUR, President Joseph Kabila presided over the opening ceremony, during which the general prosecutor of the Republic mentioned some shortcomings of the organic law of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). The paper says,' The IEC organic law could undergo some significant modifications so as to address the shortcomings, especially with respect to cases of electoral protest filed by different candidates as well as cases of electoral dispute.' It quotes the general prosecutor as pointing out that 'the law organising the IEC did not retain the term 'dispute' and yet it is intended to detect cases of fraud, irregularities and other disputes occurring before, during or after the elections.'
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES notes that during the open, solemn session, the president of the Supreme Court's address focused on the notions of the Court's 'consultative opinion' and 'appraisal of the conformity of laws to the Constitution.' Two specific cases have already been referred to the Supreme Court for its 'consultative opinion,' the paper points out. The two cases were about difficulties in interpreting articles 76 and 94 of the Transitional Constitution that confers upon the Head of State the power to appoint the senior functionaries of the State, the provincial governors and vice-governors, heads of State-owned companies, and about the President of the National Assembly's request concerning the draft law of amnesty. On the conformity of laws, the Supreme Court's session examined the constitutionality of the organic law of the High Authority of Media and the law of political parties, according to LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES.
The question of sharing of responsibilities within State-owned companies, the Central Bank and other national financial institutions, continues to attract several comments, announces LE POTENTIEL, noting that the sub-commission dealing with the issue has listed 32 'viable' companies to be shared among the components and entities. During the sub-commission's session of September 27, it was agreed that the 'sharing of responsibilities' would be achieved by consensus so as to enable the appointment of new heads of State-owned companies. 'But as soon as that agreement was recalled, members of the former-government component voiced their opposition to the sharing of responsibilities,' reports the paper. According to that component, 'the companies' heads should be selected by a special committee composed of representatives of the components and entities and those of national as well as international partners.'
There are 'persistent rumours about an imminent reshuffle of the presidential cabinet,' announces FORUM DES AS, saying that, during a news conference due today, the Head of State may or not conform those rumours.
Where have Nkunda and Mutebutsi gone' asks L'AVENIR, noting that since regular forces regained control over Bukavu and Minova, members of the public keep wondering about what may be these warlords' current fate. According to the paper, Laurent Nkunda, who was 'rumoured to be dead, is still alive and has even been seen in some circles in Goma,' while 'Colonel Mutebutsi is feared to have to have been killed by the attack on the Gatumba refugee camp,' but Rwandan authorities have denied that report.
