UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
6 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review of October 21, 2004
*Original in French
Today's local press comments on the Head of UN Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno's current visit to the DRC. Other events covered by the papers include President Joseph Kabila's visit to Kisangani, in eastern DRC, Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba's pending visit to Bukavu and the arrest of the leader of the recent insurgency in Kilwa, in the southern province of Katanga.
Today's local press comments on the Head of UN Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno's current visit to the DRC. Other events covered by the papers include President Joseph Kabila's visit to Kisangani, in eastern DRC, Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba's pending visit to Bukavu and the arrest of the leader of the recent insurgency in Kilwa, in the southern province of Katanga.
Referring to what it calls 'Jean-Marie Guéhenno's nth visit to the DRC, LE PHARE titles 'Much routine, little impact.' While deploring that there has been little information about the UN Under-Secretary-General's agenda, the paper, citing sources close to MONUC, announces Mr. Guéhenno is scheduled to meet with President Joseph Kabila today. Quoting the same sources, the paper says 'the two personalities will discuss issues related to the UN Mission's mandate and talks assigned by The Security Council's Resolution 1565 and to the nearing end of the Transition.' By its resolution 1565, the Security Council, recalls the paper, has increased MONUC force to a total of 16,700 personnel, 'instead of 23,900 that the UN Secretary-General had requested for in consideration of the size of the country and the scope of the tasks awaiting the UN contingents.' Though the paper appreciates the Security Council's effort, it judges it 'short of the level needed to meet the many challenges on the ground' in the DRC. In this context, the paper recalls last June's events in Bukavu, 'for which MONUC suffered severe criticism from both inside Congo's borders and the world beyond,' and it describes ' the little progress on the DDRRR programme and the continuing difficulties in forming a new unified national army as constituting threats to the transition process, though it is unclear what MONUC wants to do to help with this situation.'
Many observers accuse different parties to the Transitional Government of using various pretexts to avoid the future elections, LE PHARE notes. The paper asks: 'what means does MONUC have at its disposal or want to mobilise in the future in order to meet these challenges, above all to contribute in a decisive manner to the organisation of free, democratic and transparent elections' Failing that, it would witness a uprising, of which the events of June 3rd and 4th were the start.' The paper concludes: 'There is no easy answer considering the little commitment MONUC is showing today. Worse, having become routine, Jean-Marie Guéhenno's repeated visits have failed to bring more visibility to UN action. They have has little impact, compared to the pressing demands and needs.'
'The collection of arms has begun in Kindu' as pas of preparations for President Joseph Kabila's visit the provincial capital of Maniema, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES announces. ' Impressive logistic means are being deployed ahead of President's visit,' according to the paper. It says security forces have seized 42 weapons 'found in civilians hands, in yards, military camps or in the hands of policemen and magistrates.' But the presidential trip's 'date remains unknown'. The regional commander, General Onoya, has promised that those handing in their weapons and ammunitions will not need to worry. 'He (Onoya) cited the example of those who had laid down their weapons under the supervision of MONUC,' reports the paper, calling for the arms recovery operation to be conducted in respect of human rights. The Congolese rally for Democracy (RCD) has deplored exactions committed during such operations in Kisangani when Joseph Kabila was visiting there, the paper recalls.
In reference to the President's just completed visit to the capital of Province Orientale, LE PALMARES titles ' Joseph Kabila had a narrow escape.' The paper writes: 'It is said that 24 Rwandan soldiers or the like, who had intended to kill the President [in Kisangani], were arrested yesterday.' 'These rogues had managed to escape the disarmament operation conducted by the GSSP (Special Presidential Security Group),' the paper explains. 'Their coup failed because the President decided to land not at the Bangoka international airport, which is in the middle of the jungle, but at the much smaller Simi-Simi airport, which is in the centre-town area,' explains the paper, fearing that if this story is confirmed as true, Kabila's plans to travel to Kindu, Bukavu and Goma might be cancelled.
'The hiccups of the presidential visit to Kisangani,' titles LA REFERENCE PLUS, denouncing the heavy-handedness of the presidential security unit (GSSP), ill coordinated security forces, and the serious disregard for regional political notables. The paper also deplores the beating inflicted to some persons on the basis of denunciations, as well as the amateurism on the part of the organisers and the presidential press team.
'MONUC welcomes Joseph Kabila's visit to Kisangani', says the paper, citing MONUC weekly news briefing held Wednesday. 'For MONUC, this visit constitutes a positive step towards the context of peace, the country's reunification and reconciliation,' the paper quotes MONUC spokesman as saying.
'Jean-Pierre Bemba in Bukavu this Thursday,' titles FORUM DES AS, saying that the Vice President in charge of the Commission on Economic and Financial Affairs will 'certainly address the social problems that the population has raised with his colleague of the Commission on Cultural and Social Affairs,' Arthur Z'ahidi Ngoma, who has just completed a visit to the provincial capital of South Kivu. According to LE PALMARES, Bemba's visit will help Bukavu residents 'forget how Joseph Kabila has let them down, as he limited his eastern DRC visit to Kisangani for security reasons.'
'Nkunda spotted at Lubutu,' titles L'AVENIR, referring to the renegade general who occupied Bukavu on June 2-9, 2004. Citing travellers in that area of Maniema province, the paper writes 'the man is engaged in illegal exploitation of tin and coltan ' just like he was doing at Mova' before being chased from there. It is said there have been 10 rotations by aircrafts from Kigali, and this shows that Nkunda's business is doing fine, the paper says. 'The landing strip is a road section that was built, but not completely, during the colonial period and was intended to open up the area. When aircrafts arrive from Kigali, that road section is cleared of all traffic so they can make their landing. As a result, illegal traders can operate freely,' the paper explains.
A least three papers report that the leader of the insurgency at Kilwa, in Katanga province, has been arrested. L'OBSERVATEUR titles 'The chief of the assailants of Kilwa arrested.' LE PALMARES explains that Alain Ilunga Mukalayi has been arrested along with his accomplices. Hit in the stomach by two bullets, he has been transferred to Lubumbashi where he underwent surgery on Wednesday.
Many observers accuse different parties to the Transitional Government of using various pretexts to avoid the future elections, LE PHARE notes. The paper asks: 'what means does MONUC have at its disposal or want to mobilise in the future in order to meet these challenges, above all to contribute in a decisive manner to the organisation of free, democratic and transparent elections' Failing that, it would witness a uprising, of which the events of June 3rd and 4th were the start.' The paper concludes: 'There is no easy answer considering the little commitment MONUC is showing today. Worse, having become routine, Jean-Marie Guéhenno's repeated visits have failed to bring more visibility to UN action. They have has little impact, compared to the pressing demands and needs.'
'The collection of arms has begun in Kindu' as pas of preparations for President Joseph Kabila's visit the provincial capital of Maniema, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES announces. ' Impressive logistic means are being deployed ahead of President's visit,' according to the paper. It says security forces have seized 42 weapons 'found in civilians hands, in yards, military camps or in the hands of policemen and magistrates.' But the presidential trip's 'date remains unknown'. The regional commander, General Onoya, has promised that those handing in their weapons and ammunitions will not need to worry. 'He (Onoya) cited the example of those who had laid down their weapons under the supervision of MONUC,' reports the paper, calling for the arms recovery operation to be conducted in respect of human rights. The Congolese rally for Democracy (RCD) has deplored exactions committed during such operations in Kisangani when Joseph Kabila was visiting there, the paper recalls.
In reference to the President's just completed visit to the capital of Province Orientale, LE PALMARES titles ' Joseph Kabila had a narrow escape.' The paper writes: 'It is said that 24 Rwandan soldiers or the like, who had intended to kill the President [in Kisangani], were arrested yesterday.' 'These rogues had managed to escape the disarmament operation conducted by the GSSP (Special Presidential Security Group),' the paper explains. 'Their coup failed because the President decided to land not at the Bangoka international airport, which is in the middle of the jungle, but at the much smaller Simi-Simi airport, which is in the centre-town area,' explains the paper, fearing that if this story is confirmed as true, Kabila's plans to travel to Kindu, Bukavu and Goma might be cancelled.
'The hiccups of the presidential visit to Kisangani,' titles LA REFERENCE PLUS, denouncing the heavy-handedness of the presidential security unit (GSSP), ill coordinated security forces, and the serious disregard for regional political notables. The paper also deplores the beating inflicted to some persons on the basis of denunciations, as well as the amateurism on the part of the organisers and the presidential press team.
'MONUC welcomes Joseph Kabila's visit to Kisangani', says the paper, citing MONUC weekly news briefing held Wednesday. 'For MONUC, this visit constitutes a positive step towards the context of peace, the country's reunification and reconciliation,' the paper quotes MONUC spokesman as saying.
'Jean-Pierre Bemba in Bukavu this Thursday,' titles FORUM DES AS, saying that the Vice President in charge of the Commission on Economic and Financial Affairs will 'certainly address the social problems that the population has raised with his colleague of the Commission on Cultural and Social Affairs,' Arthur Z'ahidi Ngoma, who has just completed a visit to the provincial capital of South Kivu. According to LE PALMARES, Bemba's visit will help Bukavu residents 'forget how Joseph Kabila has let them down, as he limited his eastern DRC visit to Kisangani for security reasons.'
'Nkunda spotted at Lubutu,' titles L'AVENIR, referring to the renegade general who occupied Bukavu on June 2-9, 2004. Citing travellers in that area of Maniema province, the paper writes 'the man is engaged in illegal exploitation of tin and coltan ' just like he was doing at Mova' before being chased from there. It is said there have been 10 rotations by aircrafts from Kigali, and this shows that Nkunda's business is doing fine, the paper says. 'The landing strip is a road section that was built, but not completely, during the colonial period and was intended to open up the area. When aircrafts arrive from Kigali, that road section is cleared of all traffic so they can make their landing. As a result, illegal traders can operate freely,' the paper explains.
A least three papers report that the leader of the insurgency at Kilwa, in Katanga province, has been arrested. L'OBSERVATEUR titles 'The chief of the assailants of Kilwa arrested.' LE PALMARES explains that Alain Ilunga Mukalayi has been arrested along with his accomplices. Hit in the stomach by two bullets, he has been transferred to Lubumbashi where he underwent surgery on Wednesday.
