UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
6 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review
*Original in French
Today's press is devoted to the growing insecurity in eastern DRC and the mass protests this situation has caused in the region and in Kinshasa.
Today's press is devoted to the growing insecurity in eastern DRC and the mass protests this situation has caused in the region and in Kinshasa.
Describing the security situation in eastern DRC as alarming, L'AVENIR recalls Monday's mass demonstration across the capital of North Kivu province, Goma, and the subsequent police crackdown resulting in one of the protesters killed. It also recalls the demonstrations staged by residents of Bukavu (South Kivu) in support of their brothers and sisters in North Kivu, as well as the massive violations of human rights observed in the northeastern district of Ituri. 'Deeply concerned, the Senators want explanations,' notes the paper, announcing that 'Two Ministers [are] summoned' to appear before the Senate, namely, Jean-Pierre Ondekane of National Defence, and Theophile Mbemba of the Interior. 'Barring a last-minute change, the two Ministers will appear before the Senate this Wednesday to explain themselves.'
Citing a report by the Réseau National des Organisations de Droits de l'Homme (RHENADOC, National Human Rights Organisations Network) on the situation in Goma, L'AVENIR speaks of 'ignominious acts of banditry, massive abductions and murders of defenceless civilian populations.' It blames several armed groups, including elements loyal to renegade General Laurent Nkunda, former bodyguards of RCD-Goma leaders, bodyguards of South Kivu's former officials 'who had fled to Goma', 'Suspected Rwandan soldiers allegedly operating within the 8th military region of North Kivu' and 'uncontrolled' elements of military police. In this report issued Tuesday, RHENADOC also speaks about 'Rwandan soldiers crossing into the territory of North Kivu, mainly at Kibumba, Ishasha and Kiwanga.' The network warns about the circulation of light and small-calibre arms, and the possibility of war starting again. L'AVENIR hopes the two Ministers summoned to the Senate will be able 'to clarify a situation that is getting more and more irritating to all peace loving people.'
In a piece titled '[President] Kabila and [Vice President] Ruberwa let [North Kivu governor] Serufuli set Goma ablaze', LA REFERENCE PLUS criticises Congolese authorities on their failure to provide a proper response to a situation where 'murders that have become commonplace.'
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, however, highlights measures decided by South Kivu Governor Eugene Serufuli to reinforce security. These include cantoning soldiers in a camp located 15 kilometres from Goma and collecting arms at checkpoints set up across the city and its environs. But according to the paper, 'the collection of arms, which is being carried out jointly by army troops and migration officials, is being impeded as some military officers refuse to let their bodyguards be disarmed.' As reported by this paper, two people were killed during Monday's demonstrations in Goma.
'Shegués take up arms in Matete', titles LE PHARE, referring to Monday's incident in which street children, or 'Shegués', had a run-in with police forces in a section of eastern Kinshasa, resulting in one 'Shegué' killed and another wounded. The incident occurred when a patrolling police squad from a nearby police station seized some money from these street children, suspecting it was money 'stolen from some peaceful citizens', as is often the case with 'Shegués'. But these Shegués would not give up what appeared to be the product of an especially 'lucky day of toil'. So, armed with stones, they staged an attack on the police station. All policemen found there fled, abandoning arms and ammunitions to the attackers. But later came from the police 'a vigorous response with forces using powerful means and firing on sight'. This left one person killed, another hit in the leg, 9 Shegués arrested, a shop and a bakery looted. But it is not known what have become of the arms stolen by the street children of Matete, points out LE PHARE, warning of 'the danger that Shegués armed with automatic rifles can represent.'
In recent months, some street children have been killed in Mbuji-Mayi (eastern Kasaï province) in cashes with the population, recalls the paper, for which the phenomenon of street children operating 'openly and publicly with the country's highest officials watching' is 'a time bomb.'
Giving a different version of the same story, L'AVENIR speaks about a commercial drivers strike that hit the Congolese capital on Monday, before escalating into a looting spree in the Matete neighbourhood. Two street children were killed and several others wounded, according to the paper.
Speaking about insecurity in Bunia (northeastern DRC), LE POTENTIEL mentions the death of Alexis Tetina Telly, chief of the Mudzipela neighbourhood, murdered by unidentified gunmen, as well as the successful escape of 35 prisoners. The Congolese national police backed by MONUC civil police have launched investigations to identify Mr. Tetina's killers, the paper notes. Citing testimonies in Bunia, the paper deplores that the Moroccan contingent of MONUC, which helps the national police guard the prison, failed to prevent the prisoners' escape, despite being having a mandate with Chapter 7 authorities to use force.
In an article titled 'South Kivu: The Rwandan Ex-Rebels behind numerous exactions,' LE PALMARES denounces the harassment suffered by the population in the region of Walungu. The paper welcomes the MONUC/FARDC joint initiative to launch 'an offensive against those rebels', who constitute an obstacle to peace not only in this area but also in the entire Great Lakes region. The paper hopes to see this problem addressed by the International Conference on peace, security and development in the Great Lakes that will bring together heads of state from the region in Tanzania's capital, Dar es Salaam, on November 19-20. Joseph Kabila [is] in Lubumbashi since yesterday [Tuesday], on his way to Dar es Salaam, the paper notes. According to L'OBSERVATEUR, 'Joseph Kabila's address [at the Dar es Salaam Conference] is much expected.' The paper hopes the DRC will seize the opportunity thus offered to 'call upon the international community to support the transition process till free and democratic elections are held' in the country.
In another story, L'OBSERVATEUR announces 'The UN Security Council will on mission to the Great Lakes' from 21st to 25th of November. The Council delegation, led by France, will visit Rwanda, the DRC, Burundi and Uganda, the paper notes. This mission is expected to focus on issues related to security in the region, the question of reinforcing the UN-imposed embargo on arms destined for armed groups in eastern DRC and the continuation of the illegal exploitation of this country's natural resources, according to the paper.
Referring to the issue concerning the sharing of management responsibilities within government-controlled companies during the transition and the way these economic entities have been administered so far, LE PALMARES notes a series of abuses by some of the current managers. For example, the paper cites the case of a company director allowing himself a leave pay of 68,863 US dollars, and another pocketing 43,000 US dollars to buy himself a birthday gift. LE POTENTIEL also has a piece devoted to the same subject and titled 'Mismanagement of public companies: let justice be done.' In this regard, LE PALMARES announces the creation by the International Committee To Support the Transition (ICST) of a commission to look into this issue and make recommendations reflecting the views of the components and entities of the government, enabling them to 'decide the matter in a manner acceptable to all.' FORUM DES AS refers to 'Rumours about France's opposition' regarding the sharing out of State-run companies among the components and entities. France is a member of the ICST.
Citing a report by the Réseau National des Organisations de Droits de l'Homme (RHENADOC, National Human Rights Organisations Network) on the situation in Goma, L'AVENIR speaks of 'ignominious acts of banditry, massive abductions and murders of defenceless civilian populations.' It blames several armed groups, including elements loyal to renegade General Laurent Nkunda, former bodyguards of RCD-Goma leaders, bodyguards of South Kivu's former officials 'who had fled to Goma', 'Suspected Rwandan soldiers allegedly operating within the 8th military region of North Kivu' and 'uncontrolled' elements of military police. In this report issued Tuesday, RHENADOC also speaks about 'Rwandan soldiers crossing into the territory of North Kivu, mainly at Kibumba, Ishasha and Kiwanga.' The network warns about the circulation of light and small-calibre arms, and the possibility of war starting again. L'AVENIR hopes the two Ministers summoned to the Senate will be able 'to clarify a situation that is getting more and more irritating to all peace loving people.'
In a piece titled '[President] Kabila and [Vice President] Ruberwa let [North Kivu governor] Serufuli set Goma ablaze', LA REFERENCE PLUS criticises Congolese authorities on their failure to provide a proper response to a situation where 'murders that have become commonplace.'
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, however, highlights measures decided by South Kivu Governor Eugene Serufuli to reinforce security. These include cantoning soldiers in a camp located 15 kilometres from Goma and collecting arms at checkpoints set up across the city and its environs. But according to the paper, 'the collection of arms, which is being carried out jointly by army troops and migration officials, is being impeded as some military officers refuse to let their bodyguards be disarmed.' As reported by this paper, two people were killed during Monday's demonstrations in Goma.
'Shegués take up arms in Matete', titles LE PHARE, referring to Monday's incident in which street children, or 'Shegués', had a run-in with police forces in a section of eastern Kinshasa, resulting in one 'Shegué' killed and another wounded. The incident occurred when a patrolling police squad from a nearby police station seized some money from these street children, suspecting it was money 'stolen from some peaceful citizens', as is often the case with 'Shegués'. But these Shegués would not give up what appeared to be the product of an especially 'lucky day of toil'. So, armed with stones, they staged an attack on the police station. All policemen found there fled, abandoning arms and ammunitions to the attackers. But later came from the police 'a vigorous response with forces using powerful means and firing on sight'. This left one person killed, another hit in the leg, 9 Shegués arrested, a shop and a bakery looted. But it is not known what have become of the arms stolen by the street children of Matete, points out LE PHARE, warning of 'the danger that Shegués armed with automatic rifles can represent.'
In recent months, some street children have been killed in Mbuji-Mayi (eastern Kasaï province) in cashes with the population, recalls the paper, for which the phenomenon of street children operating 'openly and publicly with the country's highest officials watching' is 'a time bomb.'
Giving a different version of the same story, L'AVENIR speaks about a commercial drivers strike that hit the Congolese capital on Monday, before escalating into a looting spree in the Matete neighbourhood. Two street children were killed and several others wounded, according to the paper.
Speaking about insecurity in Bunia (northeastern DRC), LE POTENTIEL mentions the death of Alexis Tetina Telly, chief of the Mudzipela neighbourhood, murdered by unidentified gunmen, as well as the successful escape of 35 prisoners. The Congolese national police backed by MONUC civil police have launched investigations to identify Mr. Tetina's killers, the paper notes. Citing testimonies in Bunia, the paper deplores that the Moroccan contingent of MONUC, which helps the national police guard the prison, failed to prevent the prisoners' escape, despite being having a mandate with Chapter 7 authorities to use force.
In an article titled 'South Kivu: The Rwandan Ex-Rebels behind numerous exactions,' LE PALMARES denounces the harassment suffered by the population in the region of Walungu. The paper welcomes the MONUC/FARDC joint initiative to launch 'an offensive against those rebels', who constitute an obstacle to peace not only in this area but also in the entire Great Lakes region. The paper hopes to see this problem addressed by the International Conference on peace, security and development in the Great Lakes that will bring together heads of state from the region in Tanzania's capital, Dar es Salaam, on November 19-20. Joseph Kabila [is] in Lubumbashi since yesterday [Tuesday], on his way to Dar es Salaam, the paper notes. According to L'OBSERVATEUR, 'Joseph Kabila's address [at the Dar es Salaam Conference] is much expected.' The paper hopes the DRC will seize the opportunity thus offered to 'call upon the international community to support the transition process till free and democratic elections are held' in the country.
In another story, L'OBSERVATEUR announces 'The UN Security Council will on mission to the Great Lakes' from 21st to 25th of November. The Council delegation, led by France, will visit Rwanda, the DRC, Burundi and Uganda, the paper notes. This mission is expected to focus on issues related to security in the region, the question of reinforcing the UN-imposed embargo on arms destined for armed groups in eastern DRC and the continuation of the illegal exploitation of this country's natural resources, according to the paper.
Referring to the issue concerning the sharing of management responsibilities within government-controlled companies during the transition and the way these economic entities have been administered so far, LE PALMARES notes a series of abuses by some of the current managers. For example, the paper cites the case of a company director allowing himself a leave pay of 68,863 US dollars, and another pocketing 43,000 US dollars to buy himself a birthday gift. LE POTENTIEL also has a piece devoted to the same subject and titled 'Mismanagement of public companies: let justice be done.' In this regard, LE PALMARES announces the creation by the International Committee To Support the Transition (ICST) of a commission to look into this issue and make recommendations reflecting the views of the components and entities of the government, enabling them to 'decide the matter in a manner acceptable to all.' FORUM DES AS refers to 'Rumours about France's opposition' regarding the sharing out of State-run companies among the components and entities. France is a member of the ICST.
