UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
4 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review
The crisis in Bukavu in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - where MONUC has started deploying new forces -, the campaign orchestrated by civil society organisations against the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in the country, as well as national activities relating to Women's International Day constitute the main news headlines in Kinshasa's newspapers of March 8th, 2004.
"Tension continues in Bukavu", as Blue Helmets carry on their deployment to this town, L'OBSERVATEUR announces. "These UN elements (a reference to the Kivu Brigade, which is to eventually number 3,500 men, 600 of whom being already in Bukavu) are to eventually deploy in North and South Kivu", following a three-day "ghost town" operation organised in Bukavu by Civil Society and Mai Mai combatants in protest of last week's release of Major Joseph Kasongo (an officer from the RCD). The daily quotes clerics in Bukavu who have addressed to visiting land force chief of staff, General Sylvain Buki, a message "denouncing the manhunt launched throughout the town by Colonel Jules Mutebusi [from RCD] in a bid to capture General Nabyolwa," commander of the 10th military region appointed by Kinshasa. "As if that was not enough, Congolese of the RCD and their Rwandan allies allow themselves to violate the intimacy of our monasteries, in their search for General Prosper Nabyolwa," the clerics complain.
"MONUC, Belgium and Germany mobilise", headlines LE PHARE, referring to peacekeeping in the former Kivu. "A synergy is being developed between MONUC, Belgium and Germany for peacekeeping in the former Kivu, which now encompasses the provinces of North and South Kivu, and that of Maniema. ..Regarding MONUC, the first batch from its reinforcement troops earmarked to deploy in the provincial capital of South Kivu (Bukavu) is expected to do so within ten days. At the same time that MONUC wants to make itself more visible in North Kivu, South Kivu and Maniema, Belgium, last Friday, showed where it stands by writing to the German Ministry of Defence requesting that German troops be deployed on DRC territory."
For the last few weeks, starting in Bukavu and spreading to Kinshasa, a Civil Society-orchestrated campaign has developed against the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the DRC. In an article entitled "Do not attack William Swing," LE PALMARES denounces the campaign that it brands as "dangerous mainly because it touches a key personality for the execution of the transitional process."
According to the paper, as Head of MONUC, Mr. Swing "has always acted as a safety fuse in the face of the excesses of our politicians, in a country where reigns a crisis of leadership. There is need to impose a person whose authority is recognised by all. That is exactly the role being performed by the current MONUC chief, William Swing. That he has some privileged relations with Rwanda, as has been insinuated in the latest statement by civil society NGOs, that is inherent to every human undertaking - which is never perfect."
"Should one force Mr. Swing to leave today, as would wish some civil society NGOs, it would be difficult to find that rare bird that would have equal authority on one hand, and equal knowledge of the Congolese political world one the other hand," the paper comments. It adds: "the turbulence being created by Civil Society in this affair is interpreted in some circles as dangerous interference into political affairs to the extent that one wonders if these acts are not the outcome of political manipulation."
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES notes that the UN Security Council has "invited the [Congolese] authorities ...to play their role fully." This is in reference to the recent Security Council meeting on the situation in the DRC, during which Council members "reaffirmed their full support to the efforts of the Government of national unity and transition, as well as to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the staff of the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo."
Finally, it is worth noting the organisation, at the national level, of celebrations marking International Women's Day, on this year's theme of "Gender and Sexual Violence in the DRC." "Appeal for solidarity with all Congolese martyred women", headlines LE POTENTIEL in this regard. This is in reference to the appeal made by the Coalition of Women for Lasting Peace and Development, by which they invite "all Congolese peace, justice-loving women, in solidarity with all female victims of violence in the DRC, to wave palm tree branches this Monday, as a sign of peace." Several events are scheduled to take place, notably the official presentation of the document containing gender awareness strategies for national policy and programmes, by the Government Minister in charge of Female Condition and Family.
"MONUC, Belgium and Germany mobilise", headlines LE PHARE, referring to peacekeeping in the former Kivu. "A synergy is being developed between MONUC, Belgium and Germany for peacekeeping in the former Kivu, which now encompasses the provinces of North and South Kivu, and that of Maniema. ..Regarding MONUC, the first batch from its reinforcement troops earmarked to deploy in the provincial capital of South Kivu (Bukavu) is expected to do so within ten days. At the same time that MONUC wants to make itself more visible in North Kivu, South Kivu and Maniema, Belgium, last Friday, showed where it stands by writing to the German Ministry of Defence requesting that German troops be deployed on DRC territory."
For the last few weeks, starting in Bukavu and spreading to Kinshasa, a Civil Society-orchestrated campaign has developed against the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the DRC. In an article entitled "Do not attack William Swing," LE PALMARES denounces the campaign that it brands as "dangerous mainly because it touches a key personality for the execution of the transitional process."
According to the paper, as Head of MONUC, Mr. Swing "has always acted as a safety fuse in the face of the excesses of our politicians, in a country where reigns a crisis of leadership. There is need to impose a person whose authority is recognised by all. That is exactly the role being performed by the current MONUC chief, William Swing. That he has some privileged relations with Rwanda, as has been insinuated in the latest statement by civil society NGOs, that is inherent to every human undertaking - which is never perfect."
"Should one force Mr. Swing to leave today, as would wish some civil society NGOs, it would be difficult to find that rare bird that would have equal authority on one hand, and equal knowledge of the Congolese political world one the other hand," the paper comments. It adds: "the turbulence being created by Civil Society in this affair is interpreted in some circles as dangerous interference into political affairs to the extent that one wonders if these acts are not the outcome of political manipulation."
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES notes that the UN Security Council has "invited the [Congolese] authorities ...to play their role fully." This is in reference to the recent Security Council meeting on the situation in the DRC, during which Council members "reaffirmed their full support to the efforts of the Government of national unity and transition, as well as to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the staff of the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo."
Finally, it is worth noting the organisation, at the national level, of celebrations marking International Women's Day, on this year's theme of "Gender and Sexual Violence in the DRC." "Appeal for solidarity with all Congolese martyred women", headlines LE POTENTIEL in this regard. This is in reference to the appeal made by the Coalition of Women for Lasting Peace and Development, by which they invite "all Congolese peace, justice-loving women, in solidarity with all female victims of violence in the DRC, to wave palm tree branches this Monday, as a sign of peace." Several events are scheduled to take place, notably the official presentation of the document containing gender awareness strategies for national policy and programmes, by the Government Minister in charge of Female Condition and Family.
