UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
6 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review
*Original in French
Today's Kinshasa press discusses various subjects, with most papers devoting their columns mainly to the issue on the sharing of State-owned companies, the tensions in South Kivu as well as the various Congolese reactions following George Bush's re-election as President of the United States.
Today's Kinshasa press discusses various subjects, with most papers devoting their columns mainly to the issue on the sharing of State-owned companies, the tensions in South Kivu as well as the various Congolese reactions following George Bush's re-election as President of the United States.
President Joseph Kabila's intransigence in the debate on the future configuration of government-controlled companies has raised tension within the presidential space (the President and his four Vice Presidents), LE PHARE notes. The paper is referring to discussions that started Tuesday amongst 'the top officials of the Government' on the issue of sharing, among the components and entities of the Inter Congolese Dialogues, management responsibilities in State-run companies and appointing the future managers. President Joseph Kabila's position on this issue, the paper recalls, is that state assets should not be 'politicised', and that new managers should be selected on the basis of certain criteria. But the paper says this position has raised tensions amongst the President's close collaborators who consider that 'each component or entity should be allowed to freely manage its share of companies and select the managers thereof.''
On the same subject, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, however, reports that 'the prospect' of achieving a fair distribution of responsibilities in public companies seems to have improved. Quoting 'reliable sources', the paper reveals that Joseph Kabila has finally accepted the idea of sharing those responsibilities in order to allow for a peaceful political transition. It appears that the President is preparing to submit concrete proposals to the International Committee to Support the Transition (ICST) in this regard, the papers says.
The Vice President in charge of the Commission on Economic and Financial Affairs, Jean-Pierre Bemba, had sought ICST arbitration on the issue, LE PALMARES recalls. 'Instead of deciding in favour of one or the other camp, the ICST adopts a Pontius Pilate-like attitude by invoking the principles of majority rule,' says the paper, commenting on the ICST's opinion that was made public on October 28.
In another development, LE PHARE reports an upsurge in tension in eastern DRC's town of Bukavu, where the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) denounces 'a disinformation campaign orchestrated against it.' The paper, which quotes MONUC Public Information director, Mme Patricia Tomé, says 'representatives of local authorities, including religious authorities', lead this campaign. According to LE PALMARES, the local population accuses MONUC of trying 'to requisition a school's buildings to accommodate Congolese who had taken refuge at Cyangungu in Rwanda.' But, as quoted by the paper, Mme Tomé dismisses the allegations, stressing that MONUC 'seeks to obtain from the Government the use of some sites needed for its operations. It does not forcibly occupy nor requisition any sites - schools or hospitals even less.' 'MONUC is not involved in the repatriation of Banyamulenge refugees,' writes the paper, quoting Mme Tomé further. According to LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, individuals that the UN Mission describes as 'saboteurs of the transition' are the ones orchestrating the disinformation campaign against MONUC, 'with intent to prevent elections from taking place in the DRC.'
A crisis appears to be brooding within the leadership of the 10th military region (South Kivu), notes LA REFERENCE PLUS, speaking about strained relations between Colonel Simba Useni, former second commander-in-chief and his superiors. 'This colonel, who was promoted to second commander-in-chief following the suspension of Jules Mutebutsi, is suspected of having been bribed by [renegade] General Nkunda when the two met at Kalehe,' writes the paper, noting that Useni, who appears to have since accepted the facts, no longer inspires confidence among his colleagues. 'The crisis of confidence, coupled with Colonel Mutebutsi's insubordination, was the cause of dissensions, followed by armed clashes, in Bukavu and in other parts of South Kivu,' the paper recalls.
In a front-page piece devoted to military cooperation between the DRC and Belgium, L'AVENIR, reporting on the Belgian Minister of Defense's recent visit to the DRC, notes that Belgium wants an increase in its military aid for Congo. 'It is in this context that it (Belgium) plans to provide logistical support to the contingent from Benin, which is coming to reinforce the UN Mission in Congo,' announces the paper, adding that, as part of that support, 5 Belgian officers will be places at the disposal of MONUC headquarters in Kisangani.
In the same connection, LE POTENTIEL announces that MONUC force commander, General Iliya, and the general chief of staff of the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), Lieutenant-General Kisempia, met at MONUC headquarters yesterday, over the new concept of UN operations in the DRC. According to the paper, 'this meeting was an opportunity for the two to discuss implementation details regarding the DDRRR (disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation, reinsertion and resettlement) operations for foreign armed groups, DDR (disarmament. Demobilisation and reinsertion) operations for Congolese armed groups and DCR (disarmament and community reinsertion) programme for armed groups in Ituri.'
While [Joseph Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Development (PPRD) is 'celebrating' George Bush's electoral victory, [Etienne Tshisekedi]'s Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) is 'saddened', according to FORUM DES AS.
As the paper recalls, the two main political groups had been invited to witness the US electoral process, with representatives of the first attending the Republican Convention and those of the second the Democratic Convention.
L'OBSERVATEUR mentions Joseph Kabila's congratulation message to George Bush, in which the Congolese President said he was confident that 'the relations of friendship and cooperation existing between the two countries will strengthen.'
On the same subject, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, however, reports that 'the prospect' of achieving a fair distribution of responsibilities in public companies seems to have improved. Quoting 'reliable sources', the paper reveals that Joseph Kabila has finally accepted the idea of sharing those responsibilities in order to allow for a peaceful political transition. It appears that the President is preparing to submit concrete proposals to the International Committee to Support the Transition (ICST) in this regard, the papers says.
The Vice President in charge of the Commission on Economic and Financial Affairs, Jean-Pierre Bemba, had sought ICST arbitration on the issue, LE PALMARES recalls. 'Instead of deciding in favour of one or the other camp, the ICST adopts a Pontius Pilate-like attitude by invoking the principles of majority rule,' says the paper, commenting on the ICST's opinion that was made public on October 28.
In another development, LE PHARE reports an upsurge in tension in eastern DRC's town of Bukavu, where the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) denounces 'a disinformation campaign orchestrated against it.' The paper, which quotes MONUC Public Information director, Mme Patricia Tomé, says 'representatives of local authorities, including religious authorities', lead this campaign. According to LE PALMARES, the local population accuses MONUC of trying 'to requisition a school's buildings to accommodate Congolese who had taken refuge at Cyangungu in Rwanda.' But, as quoted by the paper, Mme Tomé dismisses the allegations, stressing that MONUC 'seeks to obtain from the Government the use of some sites needed for its operations. It does not forcibly occupy nor requisition any sites - schools or hospitals even less.' 'MONUC is not involved in the repatriation of Banyamulenge refugees,' writes the paper, quoting Mme Tomé further. According to LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, individuals that the UN Mission describes as 'saboteurs of the transition' are the ones orchestrating the disinformation campaign against MONUC, 'with intent to prevent elections from taking place in the DRC.'
A crisis appears to be brooding within the leadership of the 10th military region (South Kivu), notes LA REFERENCE PLUS, speaking about strained relations between Colonel Simba Useni, former second commander-in-chief and his superiors. 'This colonel, who was promoted to second commander-in-chief following the suspension of Jules Mutebutsi, is suspected of having been bribed by [renegade] General Nkunda when the two met at Kalehe,' writes the paper, noting that Useni, who appears to have since accepted the facts, no longer inspires confidence among his colleagues. 'The crisis of confidence, coupled with Colonel Mutebutsi's insubordination, was the cause of dissensions, followed by armed clashes, in Bukavu and in other parts of South Kivu,' the paper recalls.
In a front-page piece devoted to military cooperation between the DRC and Belgium, L'AVENIR, reporting on the Belgian Minister of Defense's recent visit to the DRC, notes that Belgium wants an increase in its military aid for Congo. 'It is in this context that it (Belgium) plans to provide logistical support to the contingent from Benin, which is coming to reinforce the UN Mission in Congo,' announces the paper, adding that, as part of that support, 5 Belgian officers will be places at the disposal of MONUC headquarters in Kisangani.
In the same connection, LE POTENTIEL announces that MONUC force commander, General Iliya, and the general chief of staff of the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), Lieutenant-General Kisempia, met at MONUC headquarters yesterday, over the new concept of UN operations in the DRC. According to the paper, 'this meeting was an opportunity for the two to discuss implementation details regarding the DDRRR (disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation, reinsertion and resettlement) operations for foreign armed groups, DDR (disarmament. Demobilisation and reinsertion) operations for Congolese armed groups and DCR (disarmament and community reinsertion) programme for armed groups in Ituri.'
While [Joseph Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Development (PPRD) is 'celebrating' George Bush's electoral victory, [Etienne Tshisekedi]'s Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) is 'saddened', according to FORUM DES AS.
As the paper recalls, the two main political groups had been invited to witness the US electoral process, with representatives of the first attending the Republican Convention and those of the second the Democratic Convention.
L'OBSERVATEUR mentions Joseph Kabila's congratulation message to George Bush, in which the Congolese President said he was confident that 'the relations of friendship and cooperation existing between the two countries will strengthen.'
