Today's local press focuses on debates around President Kabila's candidacy for the presidential elections.

The Independent Electoral Commission issued early this week the provisional list of candidates for the presidential elections, including President Joseph Kabila. However the latter's candidacy has given rise to controversies. Several requests were submitted to the Supreme Court for the rejection of his candidacy due to his "military status."

"A decree approving President Kabila's resignation was issued on 15 March 2006," says Le Palmarès. It is numbered "06/012...and was published in the 7th issue of the official paper of 1st April 2006," further says La Référence Plus. "The request for the voluntary resignation was submitted on 14 March 2005," adds Le Palmarès.

14 March 2005? "Why has it been issued only now?," wonders Le Phare.

Be that as it may, prior to the approval of his resignation (15 March 2006), "the applicant, Joseph Kabila, who was not yet enlightened as to his new statute, was indeed registered on the electoral lists when he was still in the army," notes Le Phare. In conclusion: the decree on the "approval of the voluntary resignation of Major General Joseph Kabila came after his identification and registration," says La Référence Plus, indicating, "this is a breach of the law on the voters' identification and registration, the registration of military and police officers still on duty," points out La Référence Plus.

This is "a rearguard fight indicative of lack of arguments," says L'Avenir. There is no doubt about it that Joseph Kabila will "compete and win the elections and will be elected...in the first or second round," reports Le Palmarès. "I will certainly win," writes Le Palmarès, echoing President Kabila's interview to the pan African weekly, Jeune Afrique l'Intelligent.

With a view to "preventing Joseph Kabila from winning in the first round, a mega-platform has been set up," says Le Potentiel. As a result, "some candidates will withdraw, others will keep a golden silence and others still will form conventions," predicts Le Potentiel.