UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
5 Mar
2009
Press Review
Today's local papers in Kinshasa comment on the turn of event in Bukavu following yesterday's assault by the DRC armed forces.
''The troops of the 10th military region made an assault on the town of Bukavu Tuesday 8 June at 14 hours, from positions they were holding around the town'', LE POTENTIEL reports that the DRC troops of the new unified and restructured army entered Bukavu at 19 hours, to thunderous applause of the population. Mbuza Mabe launched the assault with 10,000 troops, the paper says.
LE PALMARES refers to the turn of event, indicating that Mbuza Mabe's assault forced Mutebutsi to take refuge in Rwanda. The paper also says, ''General Mbuza Mabe practically met no resistance and his troops began entering Bukavu yesterday''. It raises another point ''but not least'', that impacted on the cessation of hostilities in Bukavu, ''Monuc's tactful mediation in convincing Mutebutsi to canton his troops in Alfajiri College and camp Saïo'' the credit of which should be given to Mr. William Swing, the paper says.
L'OBSERVATEUR, in turn, indicates that the Congolese army's offensive was accompanied by violent clashes at Bukavu's outskirts. The paper further says that ''in view of the sustained firing by the regular army determined by all means to recover the town of Bukavu, General Nkunda and colonel Mutebutsi's dissident troops did not hesitate to cross Ruzizi carrying away the stolen items and money extorted from individuals and the banks in the town''. Other dissident troops under Jules Mutebutsi are reported still in the town, the paper further indicates.
According to LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, the firing with heavy weapons in the town of Bukavu is allegedly the work of ''a new warlord (who) intends to impose his law''. The paper mentions witness' accounts from the local population who declared having seen a column of gunmen under a private militia group led by a Mr. Odilon. The paper however indicates that it is difficult to tell at this point ''whether the confusion in Bukavu was caused by Odilon and if so why''.
FORUM DES AS recalls that the tense situation in Bukavu led the Congolese president, Joseph Kabila, to appeal to the French army for another Artémis operation. Unfortunately, the paper says, the intervention did not please Rwandan president Paul Kagame. ''Kigali clearly voiced its opposition to any presence of French troops in Bukavu'', the paper writes, asking why the Rwandan regime should continue interfering in the Congolese internal affairs.
On the same subject, L'AVENIR accuses Rwanda of pushing the DRC into chaos. The paper thinks that ''Kagame is a big problem to the DRC'' indicating that when everybody is busy trying to find a solution to the Congolese crisis, '' Kagame is rather seeking a fait accompli''. The paper accuses Rwandan president of having ''infiltrated the whole DRC'', with a view to launching the final assault that will throw the DRC into chaos. Moreover, the paper says, ''Kagame wants to pit Congo against the international community by portraying it as a country having an ambition to exterminate the Banyamulenge''. The paper therefore feels that it is urgent to ''find a solution to the problem Kagame'', suggesting, by way of a definite solution, ''the formation of a strong and deterrent armed forces''.
Going back over the situation in Bukavu, the paper reports that the UN Security Council has condemned General Nkunda and Colonel Mutebutsi's occupation of Bukavu. ''The Security Council also condemned Rwanda for its activities in the DRC'', the paper indicates, highlighting that ''even though the condemnation comes several days later, the Congolese people are satisfied that the DRC's cause has once more been heard''.
President Kabila has initiated consultations with the signatory of the All-inclusive Agreement, LE POTENTIEL announces, adding that Joseph Kabila has asked his interlocutors to say whether the current institutional structure should be retained or not. According to the paper, ''some members of the opposition and civil society have pleaded for the putting on ice of the 1+4'' scheme. The paper reports that RCD argued that it was signatory of the All-inclusive agreement and that as such; it should ensure that the scheme is respected. MLC also assured that it was respectful of its commitments and had to ensure that the All-inclusive agreement is respected. The paper therefore notes that ''the consensus is still difficult between those who took all the posts assigned to the political opposition's component and the embittered who suffered bitter disappointments''.
LE PALMARES refers to the turn of event, indicating that Mbuza Mabe's assault forced Mutebutsi to take refuge in Rwanda. The paper also says, ''General Mbuza Mabe practically met no resistance and his troops began entering Bukavu yesterday''. It raises another point ''but not least'', that impacted on the cessation of hostilities in Bukavu, ''Monuc's tactful mediation in convincing Mutebutsi to canton his troops in Alfajiri College and camp Saïo'' the credit of which should be given to Mr. William Swing, the paper says.
L'OBSERVATEUR, in turn, indicates that the Congolese army's offensive was accompanied by violent clashes at Bukavu's outskirts. The paper further says that ''in view of the sustained firing by the regular army determined by all means to recover the town of Bukavu, General Nkunda and colonel Mutebutsi's dissident troops did not hesitate to cross Ruzizi carrying away the stolen items and money extorted from individuals and the banks in the town''. Other dissident troops under Jules Mutebutsi are reported still in the town, the paper further indicates.
According to LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, the firing with heavy weapons in the town of Bukavu is allegedly the work of ''a new warlord (who) intends to impose his law''. The paper mentions witness' accounts from the local population who declared having seen a column of gunmen under a private militia group led by a Mr. Odilon. The paper however indicates that it is difficult to tell at this point ''whether the confusion in Bukavu was caused by Odilon and if so why''.
FORUM DES AS recalls that the tense situation in Bukavu led the Congolese president, Joseph Kabila, to appeal to the French army for another Artémis operation. Unfortunately, the paper says, the intervention did not please Rwandan president Paul Kagame. ''Kigali clearly voiced its opposition to any presence of French troops in Bukavu'', the paper writes, asking why the Rwandan regime should continue interfering in the Congolese internal affairs.
On the same subject, L'AVENIR accuses Rwanda of pushing the DRC into chaos. The paper thinks that ''Kagame is a big problem to the DRC'' indicating that when everybody is busy trying to find a solution to the Congolese crisis, '' Kagame is rather seeking a fait accompli''. The paper accuses Rwandan president of having ''infiltrated the whole DRC'', with a view to launching the final assault that will throw the DRC into chaos. Moreover, the paper says, ''Kagame wants to pit Congo against the international community by portraying it as a country having an ambition to exterminate the Banyamulenge''. The paper therefore feels that it is urgent to ''find a solution to the problem Kagame'', suggesting, by way of a definite solution, ''the formation of a strong and deterrent armed forces''.
Going back over the situation in Bukavu, the paper reports that the UN Security Council has condemned General Nkunda and Colonel Mutebutsi's occupation of Bukavu. ''The Security Council also condemned Rwanda for its activities in the DRC'', the paper indicates, highlighting that ''even though the condemnation comes several days later, the Congolese people are satisfied that the DRC's cause has once more been heard''.
President Kabila has initiated consultations with the signatory of the All-inclusive Agreement, LE POTENTIEL announces, adding that Joseph Kabila has asked his interlocutors to say whether the current institutional structure should be retained or not. According to the paper, ''some members of the opposition and civil society have pleaded for the putting on ice of the 1+4'' scheme. The paper reports that RCD argued that it was signatory of the All-inclusive agreement and that as such; it should ensure that the scheme is respected. MLC also assured that it was respectful of its commitments and had to ensure that the All-inclusive agreement is respected. The paper therefore notes that ''the consensus is still difficult between those who took all the posts assigned to the political opposition's component and the embittered who suffered bitter disappointments''.
