UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
4 Mar
2009
Press Review
MONUC activities in the DRC, the Elections, the political front between the Opposition and MLC, against the backdrop of Olenghankoy's dossier, and the turmoil within the National Assembly are the cover stories in today's local papers in Kinshasa.
The talks between the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC and President Joseph Kabila is the dominant news in L'Observateur that highlights William Swing's report to the Security Council in New York on the political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
« During his stay in New York, Mr. Swing participated in the meeting between the ambassadors of the Security Council and the CIAT members (International Committee for the Support of the Transition). "The meeting examined the thorny issue regarding the putting in place of the police and security forces. Ambassador Swing conveyed to President Kabila the message of the International Community reiterating its support to the ongoing DRC transition. Moreover, he assured President Kabila that donors would support the putting in place of the police and security forces », says the paper further clarifying the security point on the Ituri situation where « the risk of new massacres » is brewing.
According to L'Observateur, « there are increasing corroborating facts from Bunia suggesting the risk of new interethnic fighting in the Alur district, Ituri. The Hema and Lendu militias are reportedly shooting daggers from their eyes at each other. »
MONUC paid a last tribute Wednesday to two deceased military observers. La Tempête des Tropiques describes the ceremony that took place in the MONUC headquarters as « very moving ». During the ceremony, the head of the Mission, William Swing, hailed the memories of Commandant Peter Wachai from Kenya (killed last Thursday in Katoto, a village situated 22 km North East of Bunia) and Tunisian chief corporal Zammazi, deceased in Kinshasa following heart failure.
Referring to elections, Le Potentiel, raises the United Nations Security Council meeting held last week during which the members of the council shared the concerns of the (CIAT) ambassadors over the « scope of the remaining work to be carried out in preparation of the 2005 elections" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In this regard, the paper recalls that the Security Council stressed the need to swiftly put in place a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme for the Congolese combatants and insisted on the need for the Government to appoint a national coordinator for this DDR programme.
In the same development, the paper mentions, " more pressures are being put on the Congolese leaders. » « Reviewing the six-month transition, the Civil Society has just joined in raising its voice. Its spokesmen called for the respect of the time frame for the elections. Like the CIAT ambassadors, the civil society key players are harshly critical of the current management of the country by the political leadership. They accuse them of showing the worst turpitude and suspect them of trying to push the transition into unnecessary prolongation. »
Has the political leadership understood? The question is implicitly asked by La Référence Plus in its News in Brief column, announcing a «happy ending to the crisis, in sight» within the presidential and Government circles. « Jean-Pierre Bemba and Joseph Olenghankoy agreed on a one-on-one meeting. The two personalities would then sort out their dispute...The much anticipated meeting between the two men could take place today Wednesday or tomorrow », indicates the paper, alluding to the political front pitting the Vice-President for the Economic and Finance Commission (ECOFIN) against the Minister of Transport that has lasted about a month.
Furthermore, Le Palmarès highlights increasing turmoil within the Transitional Parliament. The paper reports an « unfortunate incident (that occurred) yesterday within the National Assembly during a plenary session in which the Civil Society walked out of the hall following a misunderstanding in the interpretation of the texts. The bone of contention was nothing else but the Civil Society's request for an equitable share of the members of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). » The CEI numbers 8 members drawn from the Civil Society and 13 members from political parties. Le Palmarès interviewed a member of parliament who « deplored the marginalizing of the Civil Society in this typical case».
« During his stay in New York, Mr. Swing participated in the meeting between the ambassadors of the Security Council and the CIAT members (International Committee for the Support of the Transition). "The meeting examined the thorny issue regarding the putting in place of the police and security forces. Ambassador Swing conveyed to President Kabila the message of the International Community reiterating its support to the ongoing DRC transition. Moreover, he assured President Kabila that donors would support the putting in place of the police and security forces », says the paper further clarifying the security point on the Ituri situation where « the risk of new massacres » is brewing.
According to L'Observateur, « there are increasing corroborating facts from Bunia suggesting the risk of new interethnic fighting in the Alur district, Ituri. The Hema and Lendu militias are reportedly shooting daggers from their eyes at each other. »
MONUC paid a last tribute Wednesday to two deceased military observers. La Tempête des Tropiques describes the ceremony that took place in the MONUC headquarters as « very moving ». During the ceremony, the head of the Mission, William Swing, hailed the memories of Commandant Peter Wachai from Kenya (killed last Thursday in Katoto, a village situated 22 km North East of Bunia) and Tunisian chief corporal Zammazi, deceased in Kinshasa following heart failure.
Referring to elections, Le Potentiel, raises the United Nations Security Council meeting held last week during which the members of the council shared the concerns of the (CIAT) ambassadors over the « scope of the remaining work to be carried out in preparation of the 2005 elections" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In this regard, the paper recalls that the Security Council stressed the need to swiftly put in place a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme for the Congolese combatants and insisted on the need for the Government to appoint a national coordinator for this DDR programme.
In the same development, the paper mentions, " more pressures are being put on the Congolese leaders. » « Reviewing the six-month transition, the Civil Society has just joined in raising its voice. Its spokesmen called for the respect of the time frame for the elections. Like the CIAT ambassadors, the civil society key players are harshly critical of the current management of the country by the political leadership. They accuse them of showing the worst turpitude and suspect them of trying to push the transition into unnecessary prolongation. »
Has the political leadership understood? The question is implicitly asked by La Référence Plus in its News in Brief column, announcing a «happy ending to the crisis, in sight» within the presidential and Government circles. « Jean-Pierre Bemba and Joseph Olenghankoy agreed on a one-on-one meeting. The two personalities would then sort out their dispute...The much anticipated meeting between the two men could take place today Wednesday or tomorrow », indicates the paper, alluding to the political front pitting the Vice-President for the Economic and Finance Commission (ECOFIN) against the Minister of Transport that has lasted about a month.
Furthermore, Le Palmarès highlights increasing turmoil within the Transitional Parliament. The paper reports an « unfortunate incident (that occurred) yesterday within the National Assembly during a plenary session in which the Civil Society walked out of the hall following a misunderstanding in the interpretation of the texts. The bone of contention was nothing else but the Civil Society's request for an equitable share of the members of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). » The CEI numbers 8 members drawn from the Civil Society and 13 members from political parties. Le Palmarès interviewed a member of parliament who « deplored the marginalizing of the Civil Society in this typical case».
