UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
4 Mar
2009
Press Review DRC
The activities of the UN Mission in the DR Congo (MONUC), the Vice President In Charge Of The Commission On Political, Defence and Security Matters' current mission to the country's interior, as well as the recent breakthrough in the partnership of the DRC and its foreign donors, constitute the topic of today's press commentary.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES runs an interview by General Mountaga Diallo, who has concluded his four-year mandate as MONUC Force commander. 'Mission accomplished, one might say, after nearly four years of hard work (') As commander of UN military operations, Mountaga Diallo proved he was up to the task', the paper says.
Gen. Diallo discussed his mission, the different phase of MONUC deployment and the ongoing peace process in the DRC.
As he was quoted, the force commander described his 'globally positive' mandate as 'a collective work, which is to the credit of all who have their contribution. It is first to the credit of the Congolese for having deployed efforts in searching for a peaceful solution. Then there is the international community with its support'
According to Gen. Diallo, 'Congolese have made great efforts to get to the current phase of the peace process. Aside from its efforts toward pacification and reunification, the country has given itself transitional institutions that function (..)' Optimistic about the future of the DRC, he said: 'Now, it is up to Congolese to consolidate these gains. I believe that with the support of the international community, they will succeed with the support of the international community'
In another development, LE POTENTIAL echoes MONUC's satisfaction over the recent repatriation of some Ugandan former rebels to Kampala. 'Last Sunday MONUC began operations to repatriate some 250 Ugandan rebels hostile to the Ugandan government. They were being sent home along with more than 147 dependents. No arms were collected from these elements simply because the DRC government had already disarmed them,' says this paper, quoting Philippe Bard, MONUC spokesman in Kampala. This repatriation represents 'a major step toward the normalization of relations between Uganda and DRC, and an important development that should encourage other Ugandan rebels still present in Congo to return home'
Referring to Vice President Azarias Ruberwa's current visit since last Sunday to the territories previously under rebel control, LE PALMARES calls for 'a definitive end to the two-headed administration of these provinces' 'With this visit', according to the paper, 'the Vice President in charge of the Commission on Political, Defense and Security Matters is seeking two things. First, in areas previously held by his movement, the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), he is to address military and defence issues after the defection of his principal military aides, including General Bora Uzima, who refused to join the high command of the unified national army (..) Second, this visit is aiming to put an end to the existence of separate administrations within the Province Orientale, the two provinces of Kivu and the province of Maniema'
'Despite his promise that civil servants in these territories will receive their wages shortly (for many it would be the first time in several months), Mr. Ruberwa will still have to address administrative disputes in places like Beni and Goma in North Kivu, Lodja and Mbuji Mayi in Western Kasai and Kalemie and Lubumbashi in Katanga..' (each of these provinces being run by de facto governors), explains the paper.
L'AVENIR extols the efforts of donor countries in supporting the peace process. Headlining 'The donors grant the DRC $4 billion', this paper recalls the outcome of the Paris meeting of 17 to 19 December 2003, which gathered Congolese and international experts in the context of the Advisory group of donors to the DRC.
Gen. Diallo discussed his mission, the different phase of MONUC deployment and the ongoing peace process in the DRC.
As he was quoted, the force commander described his 'globally positive' mandate as 'a collective work, which is to the credit of all who have their contribution. It is first to the credit of the Congolese for having deployed efforts in searching for a peaceful solution. Then there is the international community with its support'
According to Gen. Diallo, 'Congolese have made great efforts to get to the current phase of the peace process. Aside from its efforts toward pacification and reunification, the country has given itself transitional institutions that function (..)' Optimistic about the future of the DRC, he said: 'Now, it is up to Congolese to consolidate these gains. I believe that with the support of the international community, they will succeed with the support of the international community'
In another development, LE POTENTIAL echoes MONUC's satisfaction over the recent repatriation of some Ugandan former rebels to Kampala. 'Last Sunday MONUC began operations to repatriate some 250 Ugandan rebels hostile to the Ugandan government. They were being sent home along with more than 147 dependents. No arms were collected from these elements simply because the DRC government had already disarmed them,' says this paper, quoting Philippe Bard, MONUC spokesman in Kampala. This repatriation represents 'a major step toward the normalization of relations between Uganda and DRC, and an important development that should encourage other Ugandan rebels still present in Congo to return home'
Referring to Vice President Azarias Ruberwa's current visit since last Sunday to the territories previously under rebel control, LE PALMARES calls for 'a definitive end to the two-headed administration of these provinces' 'With this visit', according to the paper, 'the Vice President in charge of the Commission on Political, Defense and Security Matters is seeking two things. First, in areas previously held by his movement, the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), he is to address military and defence issues after the defection of his principal military aides, including General Bora Uzima, who refused to join the high command of the unified national army (..) Second, this visit is aiming to put an end to the existence of separate administrations within the Province Orientale, the two provinces of Kivu and the province of Maniema'
'Despite his promise that civil servants in these territories will receive their wages shortly (for many it would be the first time in several months), Mr. Ruberwa will still have to address administrative disputes in places like Beni and Goma in North Kivu, Lodja and Mbuji Mayi in Western Kasai and Kalemie and Lubumbashi in Katanga..' (each of these provinces being run by de facto governors), explains the paper.
L'AVENIR extols the efforts of donor countries in supporting the peace process. Headlining 'The donors grant the DRC $4 billion', this paper recalls the outcome of the Paris meeting of 17 to 19 December 2003, which gathered Congolese and international experts in the context of the Advisory group of donors to the DRC.
