UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
5 Mar
2009
Press Review
The Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) allegedly regained control of Kamanyola district yesterday, as reported by the majority of today's Kinshasa papers, which comment on the recent developments in the East of the country.
LA REFERENCE PLUS expresses satisfaction with the retaking of Kamanyola on Monday by ''the courageous FARDC''. The paper says that ''the troops of the 10th military region, under General Félix Mbuza Mabe, drove the rebels under colonel Mutebutsi out of Kamanyola on Monday''. It recalls that Mutebutsi and his troops surrounded Kamanyola district last weekend. ''The insurgents were caught in a grip set by FARDC in spite of their heavy weaponry comprised of armoured tanks and high-tech rockets made in Israel'', the paper says.
Kamanyola (is) under the control of loyalist forces, confirms L'OBSERVATEUR, quoting sources ''which are in agreement''. The paper indicates that over 10,000 FARDC troops are massed in eastern DRC. It however notes that ''this massive military presence deployed by Kinshasa is wrongly perceived by Rwandan officials who fear an attack from the DRC''. Referring to the issue, the minister of Defence, Jean Pierre Ondekane, explained that the deployment of loyalist troops to the East is not meant to threaten its neighbours. ''It is rather meant to accelerate the merging of the FARDC'', the minister is quoted as declaring by L'OBSERVATEUR.
Raising the Kamanyola battle, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES indicates that MONUC and Kigali are involved. The paper adds that ''the rebels were dislodged from Kamanyola bridge following MONUC's shooting. This led the regular troops to regain control of the strategic bridge''. It also says that ''MONUC fired back after its team of mine clearance experts was attacked by insurgents''. The paper further writes that the ''Rwandan army intervened in the fighting'', given the ''sophisticated weapons used by colonel Mutebutsi'and the military strength under the dissident colonel''.
LE PALMARES comments on MONUC's involvement in the fighting in Kamanyola and says ''MONUC's contribution with the combat helicopters which shelled Mutebutsi's positions'' show ''Mr. William Swing's independence of mind''. ''His detractors must now change their mind'', the paper further says.
In another development, the same paper discloses ''the truth'' about the sacking of army officers made by President Kabila recalling that the latter has fired the army chief of staff, admiral Liwanga, and suspended general Jean Claude Kifwa and colonel Damas Kabulo, respectively commander of the GSSP (Groupe spécial de sécurité présidentielle/Special Group for presidential security) and the chief of the president's military affairs. According to the paper, ''the three officers were sacked for failing to anticipate Eric Lenge's coup attempt (Eric is the mastermind of the 11 June coup attempt)''. The Head of state blames ''the dysfunctioning of the security system as well as Eric Lenge's escape on the above high-ranking officers''.
Under the headline: Joseph Kabila: a new leadership in sight, LE POTENTIEL rejoices over president Kabila's determination to ''keep on with initiatives'', such as the changes made in the Army. The paper feels that President Kabila's action ''is a response to the Congolese people's concerns expressed during the recent demonstrations following the bloody events in Bukavu''.
In light of the results of the polls conducted by Berci and Facilitas Consulting, LE PHARE reports that the Congolese people's confidence in their president has fallen. According to the paper, ''80% of the Congolese people have lost confidence in the All-inclusive agreement and Joseph Kabila's popularity has largely fallen to 36% from 79 % in April 2001''. This is the result of ''the rejection of an institutional architecture including 1 President and 4 Vice-Presidents''. This is regarded by the paper as a sanctioning by the Congolese people who repeatedly decried ''the lack of know-how and expertise in the Congolese leadership in handling the crisis, the dysfunctioning of the transitional institutions and the numerous disputes between the transition's key players''.
Political parties' think tanks (are) in turmoil following an imminent cabinet reshuffle, L'AVENIR reports. ''As the celebration of the first year of the transitional government approaches and vacancies have been created by the officials who were named governors, members of the different components are using this opportunity to settle their scores with some ministers'', the paper says.
Following the controversy at the National Assembly around the presidential guard, the Parliament has given priority to the mode of consensus in order to decide between PPRD, RCD and MLC, FORUM DES AS says. According to the paper, the Parliament spokesman thinks that ''the problem would be easily solved. Consensus has been retained as the mode of functioning for all the transitional institutions. No one must proceed otherwise''.
Kamanyola (is) under the control of loyalist forces, confirms L'OBSERVATEUR, quoting sources ''which are in agreement''. The paper indicates that over 10,000 FARDC troops are massed in eastern DRC. It however notes that ''this massive military presence deployed by Kinshasa is wrongly perceived by Rwandan officials who fear an attack from the DRC''. Referring to the issue, the minister of Defence, Jean Pierre Ondekane, explained that the deployment of loyalist troops to the East is not meant to threaten its neighbours. ''It is rather meant to accelerate the merging of the FARDC'', the minister is quoted as declaring by L'OBSERVATEUR.
Raising the Kamanyola battle, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES indicates that MONUC and Kigali are involved. The paper adds that ''the rebels were dislodged from Kamanyola bridge following MONUC's shooting. This led the regular troops to regain control of the strategic bridge''. It also says that ''MONUC fired back after its team of mine clearance experts was attacked by insurgents''. The paper further writes that the ''Rwandan army intervened in the fighting'', given the ''sophisticated weapons used by colonel Mutebutsi'and the military strength under the dissident colonel''.
LE PALMARES comments on MONUC's involvement in the fighting in Kamanyola and says ''MONUC's contribution with the combat helicopters which shelled Mutebutsi's positions'' show ''Mr. William Swing's independence of mind''. ''His detractors must now change their mind'', the paper further says.
In another development, the same paper discloses ''the truth'' about the sacking of army officers made by President Kabila recalling that the latter has fired the army chief of staff, admiral Liwanga, and suspended general Jean Claude Kifwa and colonel Damas Kabulo, respectively commander of the GSSP (Groupe spécial de sécurité présidentielle/Special Group for presidential security) and the chief of the president's military affairs. According to the paper, ''the three officers were sacked for failing to anticipate Eric Lenge's coup attempt (Eric is the mastermind of the 11 June coup attempt)''. The Head of state blames ''the dysfunctioning of the security system as well as Eric Lenge's escape on the above high-ranking officers''.
Under the headline: Joseph Kabila: a new leadership in sight, LE POTENTIEL rejoices over president Kabila's determination to ''keep on with initiatives'', such as the changes made in the Army. The paper feels that President Kabila's action ''is a response to the Congolese people's concerns expressed during the recent demonstrations following the bloody events in Bukavu''.
In light of the results of the polls conducted by Berci and Facilitas Consulting, LE PHARE reports that the Congolese people's confidence in their president has fallen. According to the paper, ''80% of the Congolese people have lost confidence in the All-inclusive agreement and Joseph Kabila's popularity has largely fallen to 36% from 79 % in April 2001''. This is the result of ''the rejection of an institutional architecture including 1 President and 4 Vice-Presidents''. This is regarded by the paper as a sanctioning by the Congolese people who repeatedly decried ''the lack of know-how and expertise in the Congolese leadership in handling the crisis, the dysfunctioning of the transitional institutions and the numerous disputes between the transition's key players''.
Political parties' think tanks (are) in turmoil following an imminent cabinet reshuffle, L'AVENIR reports. ''As the celebration of the first year of the transitional government approaches and vacancies have been created by the officials who were named governors, members of the different components are using this opportunity to settle their scores with some ministers'', the paper says.
Following the controversy at the National Assembly around the presidential guard, the Parliament has given priority to the mode of consensus in order to decide between PPRD, RCD and MLC, FORUM DES AS says. According to the paper, the Parliament spokesman thinks that ''the problem would be easily solved. Consensus has been retained as the mode of functioning for all the transitional institutions. No one must proceed otherwise''.
