Press Review of 9 February 2006
Except last-minute changes, "the bill on the organization of the presidential, provincial, urban, municipal and local elections is to be finally adopted by the Parliament today," reports Le Palmarès. "235 articles contained in the bill were adopted by both the National Assembly and the Senate in a marathon session yesterday, with some amendments," says Le Palmarès.
"Etienne Tshisekedi (UDPS leader) is the sole rival who can actually measure up with President Kabila," says Le Potentiel, echoing Vital Kamerhe, PPRD Secretary General (President Kabila's party). Such a declaration show that "Tshisekedi is an inescapable reality (...) He is the object of most political strategies (...) He therefore has to behave accordingly," writes Le Potentiel.
In Nord and Sud Kivu provinces, "despite tensions, the situation remains under control," reports L'Observateur, echoing Colonel Bergeron of MONUC. It is unfortunate to note that "after every victory on armed group, FARDC elements indulge in committing looting and rape (...)," notes L'Observateur. If the troops' social conditions are not improved "it would be difficult to stop such abuses," further reports L'Observateur.
The dissident General Nkunda was "spotted" by the DRC Minister of Defense, Mr. Onusumba, in Kivu, writes Le Palmarès. The Minister declared "The dissident General is based in the Masisi hills and the Government will deal with him accordingly at the appropriate time," reports the Minister of Defence.