UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
4 Mar
2009
Press Review
The re-organization of President Joseph Kabila's cabinet features high in today's local press. Some papers further raise the issue relating to the strength of the DRC armed Forces (FARDC) discussed Friday by the Transitional Government during its weekly meeting, President Thabo Mbeki's visit to Kinshasa as well as the visit of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC, William Swing to Bunia.
Through a series of decrees, President Joseph Kabila appointed his new cabinet team Sunday 11 January 2004. « The suspense is (therefore) cleared», says La Référence Plus alluding to President Kabila's newly appointed cabinet. « Evariste Boshab has retained his post as President's cabinet Director; other key figures who were assisting president Joseph Kabila at different levels have joined the new president's cabinet, namely: Justin Kabange as deputy cabinet director and professor Mupapa Say (the former government's deputy commissioner general in charge of MONUC matters) also as deputy cabinet director» indicates the paper. President Kabila's former spokesman, Mulegwa Zihindula, has been replaced with Kudura Kasongo, former journalist of Radio Télévision Nationale Congolaise/Congolese National Radio TV Broadcast (RTNC).
La Référence Plus further comments « President Kabila has picked up some of the old key figures in the previous governments, namely Augustin Katumba Mwamke and She Okitundu, whom he has appointed special roving ambassadors. Katumba Mwanke is among the most loyal to the young President. Professor Ntumba has replaced him'as Government's Secretary-General ' The latter served, seven months ago, as Human Rights minister. He has now taken over an important and strategic Government post. » The paper considers the appointment of Kikaya Bin Karubi as president Kabila's private secretary as « a very big surprise». Former Ambassador to Zimbabwe before being appointed Information minister and then government spokesman, Kikaya « would now be closer to Joseph Kabila and would have to keep the State's secrets». The paper publishes the 21-staff cabinet's list.
The new president's cabinet team is now known, says La Tempête des Tropiques. The paper echoes the Friday 9 January cabinet meeting in Kinshasa chaired by President Joseph Kabila, indicating, « the government examined the issue relating to the Army strength. Ministers further examined the draft decree on the creation of the commission tasked to control the new Army's strength, to range between 100,000 and 150,000 troops. » The paper says, « this is a most sensitive issue recalling that the key ex-belligerents promised to respectively contribute 60,000 troops from RCD; 20,051 from MLC and 25,000 from the former government component to the future army. »
With regard to the South African Head of State's visit to the DRC, L'Avenir announces, «Thabo Mbeki's (arrival) in Kinshasa tomorrow has been confirmed. » According to the pro-government paper, « the South African Head of State is coming to consolidate the efforts made by his country and himself for the DRC's Transition. »
Another visit announced by Le Palmarès is the one of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC, William Swing, on Friday 9 January to Bunia. « The purpose of the visit was to review the judiciary situation in Ituri and the disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reintegration and resettlement process (DDRRR) ».
« William Swing explained the legitimacy of the DDRRR process and the future Justice program in Ituri » says the paper adding: « MONUC head did his utmost during his visit in Bunia to bring the leaders of the armed groups and the opinion makers together. He stressed that in the next few days, the magistrates would arrive in Ituri' MONUC would provide their (the magistrates') transport, housing and security »
La Référence Plus further comments « President Kabila has picked up some of the old key figures in the previous governments, namely Augustin Katumba Mwamke and She Okitundu, whom he has appointed special roving ambassadors. Katumba Mwanke is among the most loyal to the young President. Professor Ntumba has replaced him'as Government's Secretary-General ' The latter served, seven months ago, as Human Rights minister. He has now taken over an important and strategic Government post. » The paper considers the appointment of Kikaya Bin Karubi as president Kabila's private secretary as « a very big surprise». Former Ambassador to Zimbabwe before being appointed Information minister and then government spokesman, Kikaya « would now be closer to Joseph Kabila and would have to keep the State's secrets». The paper publishes the 21-staff cabinet's list.
The new president's cabinet team is now known, says La Tempête des Tropiques. The paper echoes the Friday 9 January cabinet meeting in Kinshasa chaired by President Joseph Kabila, indicating, « the government examined the issue relating to the Army strength. Ministers further examined the draft decree on the creation of the commission tasked to control the new Army's strength, to range between 100,000 and 150,000 troops. » The paper says, « this is a most sensitive issue recalling that the key ex-belligerents promised to respectively contribute 60,000 troops from RCD; 20,051 from MLC and 25,000 from the former government component to the future army. »
With regard to the South African Head of State's visit to the DRC, L'Avenir announces, «Thabo Mbeki's (arrival) in Kinshasa tomorrow has been confirmed. » According to the pro-government paper, « the South African Head of State is coming to consolidate the efforts made by his country and himself for the DRC's Transition. »
Another visit announced by Le Palmarès is the one of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC, William Swing, on Friday 9 January to Bunia. « The purpose of the visit was to review the judiciary situation in Ituri and the disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reintegration and resettlement process (DDRRR) ».
« William Swing explained the legitimacy of the DDRRR process and the future Justice program in Ituri » says the paper adding: « MONUC head did his utmost during his visit in Bunia to bring the leaders of the armed groups and the opinion makers together. He stressed that in the next few days, the magistrates would arrive in Ituri' MONUC would provide their (the magistrates') transport, housing and security »
