UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review
*Original in French
Much of today's press is devoted to the 17th report of the UN Secretary-General on the situation in the DRC, and the debates in the Congolese National Assembly toward the adoption of the draft constitution.
'MONUC's new mandate: to ensure the security of the elections' announces LE POTENTIEL. The UN mission's 'current mandate expires on 31 March,' recalls the paper, announcing 'a renewal of that mandate in the coming hours, but with an emphasis on provision of security for the electoral process in the DRC. MONUC will be called upon to fully use chapter 7 [of the UN Charter],' the paper comments. 'This new shift is the outcome of the United Nations Secretary-General's report to the Security Council,' says the paper, noting that 'in his report for the 31 December 2004-31 March 2005 period, Secretary-General Kofi Annan recommends extending the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)'s mandate for another year, until 31 March 2006.' LE POTENTIEL, however, thinks that, 'given the sharp criticism levelled at MONUC and Congolese leaders, the mandate extension could be limited to only 6 months, that is, until 30 September 2005.' 'This is a determining moment,' the paper concludes.
Also noting that 'Kofi Annan proposes renewing MONUC's mandate,' L'OBSERVATEUR stresses that the UN Secretary-General 'calls on the Congolese government to make concrete and tangible progress toward organising elections, mainly by ensuring adoption of the draft constitution and the electoral law and by launching the, voter registration process.'
Titling 'Elections: Katanga and the two Kasaï classified by MONUC as risk zones by MONUC,' LE PHARE notes: 'the UN mission seeks to deploy a brigade to Kasaï and another to Katanga.'
In a different development, LE PALMARES, referring to a statement from the Congolese armed forces, titles 'the FARDC high command flatly denies the allegations of embezzlement of 8 millions.' According to the army, 'the allegations by some media about the stealing of soldiers' pay are false and groundless'
'It's war between MPs and Senators', announces L'AVENIR, referring to the current debates in the National Assembly on the draft constitution. ' Things will not be as easy as some might have thought. The fear is that passion may prevail over good sense and the nation's interest,' the paper warns.
Echoing the same fear, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES announces: 'The draft constitution to generate heated discussions in the lower chamber of Parliament.' Noting that 'the draft constitution is frown upon by the MPs,' the paper reveals that during Tuesday's session 'several MPs preferred to be freely talking in the corridors rather than listen to a summary of the draft constitution being read out. They were thereby expressing their rejection of the work done by the Senate.'
According to LE PALMARES 'the MPs demonstrated their determination yesterday.'
Also noting that 'Kofi Annan proposes renewing MONUC's mandate,' L'OBSERVATEUR stresses that the UN Secretary-General 'calls on the Congolese government to make concrete and tangible progress toward organising elections, mainly by ensuring adoption of the draft constitution and the electoral law and by launching the, voter registration process.'
Titling 'Elections: Katanga and the two Kasaï classified by MONUC as risk zones by MONUC,' LE PHARE notes: 'the UN mission seeks to deploy a brigade to Kasaï and another to Katanga.'
In a different development, LE PALMARES, referring to a statement from the Congolese armed forces, titles 'the FARDC high command flatly denies the allegations of embezzlement of 8 millions.' According to the army, 'the allegations by some media about the stealing of soldiers' pay are false and groundless'
'It's war between MPs and Senators', announces L'AVENIR, referring to the current debates in the National Assembly on the draft constitution. ' Things will not be as easy as some might have thought. The fear is that passion may prevail over good sense and the nation's interest,' the paper warns.
Echoing the same fear, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES announces: 'The draft constitution to generate heated discussions in the lower chamber of Parliament.' Noting that 'the draft constitution is frown upon by the MPs,' the paper reveals that during Tuesday's session 'several MPs preferred to be freely talking in the corridors rather than listen to a summary of the draft constitution being read out. They were thereby expressing their rejection of the work done by the Senate.'
According to LE PALMARES 'the MPs demonstrated their determination yesterday.'
