UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
6 Mar
2009
Press Review
The sharing of management posts in public firms, the future DRC Constitution, the tracking of Interahamwe by FARDC as well as the recent clashes between PPRD members (People's Party for Reconstruction and Development led by Joseph Kabila) and the Movement for the Liberation of DRC known as MLC in Equator Province are the major subjects in today's local papers.
The issue relating to the power sharing of management posts in public firms among components and entities to the inter Congolese dialogue is the focus of the Congolese political microcosm, LE PALMARES titles, recalling that there were diametrically opposite opinions between President Joseph Kabila's party and the other major components and entities. ''For the Head of State, management posts in public firms must not be shared'', the paper indicates, noting that the latter has urged ''that the future managing directors be selected on the basis of competence following a test sponsored by a neutral commission''. However, the majority of the other components and entities, claims 'vertical sharing of public firms', quoting the spirit of the All-inclusive agreement. Going back over President Kabila's position, the paper reports that the latter has decided to ''down his position''. According to the paper, Joseph Kabila no longer totally dismisses the idea of the sharing the management posts in public firms. He reportedly split the difference by declaring himself for the sharing of management posts in public firms at the level of the Board of Administration rather than the Board of management.
The National Association of Public Firms known as ANEP has reacted to the recent audits in public firms. LA REFERENCE PLUS says, ANEP describes ''the audits as partial since it only focuses on the management of the Kinshasa-based firms, overlooking those in the rebel-held territories''. ANEP members say they are not opposed to an ''organised'' putting-in-place of managing directors which would ''meet such criteria as experience, competence and morality but stand against any rash that would further undermine the future of public firms already in a difficult plight''.
LE POTENTIEL devotes its front page to the 3rd Republic Constitution, highlighting that the draft due to be submitted to a senate's plenary for consideration in the next few days would include some special features. The paper singles out some abnormalities, notably with regard to the political regime, indicating that under the term of the draft constitution, DRC will have a parliamentary political regime ''with a parliament whose members will be elected by direct universal suffrage' the MPs, in turn, will elect a President in he second-order elections (indirect suffrage)'', the paper explains, further noting that the same draft says the president will be elected in direct universal suffrage, that is to say, directly by the people. For the paper, the President provided for in the draft constitution is a '' weak President, having no effective powers''. The draft includes some innovations such as ''the constitutional regionalism'' endowing the provinces with ''legal personality, autonomy in the management of economic, human, financial and technical resources and the status of the opposition leader'' to be guaranteed by the Constitution. The Opposition Leader referred to is the one having the highest number of seats on the National Assembly, the paper says.
In another development, L'AVENIR reports that General Félix Buja Mabe, commander of 10th military region 'goes to war against Interhamwe in Walungu. General Mbuja Mabe allegedly voiced his intention to deploy troops on Walungu district to stop the exactions committed by uncontrolled foreign troops, particularly, the Interahamwe, the paper says, highlighting that FARDC will need MONUC support for successful operations. The paper also says that this would be the first time for MONUC and FARDC to organise such joint operations in the South Kivu since November 1999.
LE PALMARES further echoes a new report issued by UN experts on illegal exploitation of DRC resources, ratified by the United Nations Security Council. According to the paper, the UN Security Council has dropped its decision to punish those involved in the illegal exploitation of the DRC natural resources. The paper points out that the lifting of the prosecution comes in at a time when it is obvious that illegal exploitation of DRC natural resources continues. The paper is of the strong opinion that ''the firms named in the previous reports allegedly pressured the UN to get it to drop the prosecutions''.
LE PHARE reports clashes between the PPRD and MLC supporters Sunday in Gemena district, in the province of Equateur. According to the paper, the incidents broke out when a PPRD delegation arrived in Mbandaka, ''to organise the visit of Vital Kamerhe, PPRD (President Kabila's political Party) Secretary-General to the MLC (Political Party led by Vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba) stronghold''. The move apparently did not please MLC supporters. They considered it to be an unacceptable act of provocation, the paper says, indicating that the incidents constitute a ''bad omen for the electoral campaign''. FORUM DES AS notes that Vital Kamerhe meant to ''challenge'' Jean-Pierre Bemba in his stronghold by attempting to travel to Equateur.
The National Association of Public Firms known as ANEP has reacted to the recent audits in public firms. LA REFERENCE PLUS says, ANEP describes ''the audits as partial since it only focuses on the management of the Kinshasa-based firms, overlooking those in the rebel-held territories''. ANEP members say they are not opposed to an ''organised'' putting-in-place of managing directors which would ''meet such criteria as experience, competence and morality but stand against any rash that would further undermine the future of public firms already in a difficult plight''.
LE POTENTIEL devotes its front page to the 3rd Republic Constitution, highlighting that the draft due to be submitted to a senate's plenary for consideration in the next few days would include some special features. The paper singles out some abnormalities, notably with regard to the political regime, indicating that under the term of the draft constitution, DRC will have a parliamentary political regime ''with a parliament whose members will be elected by direct universal suffrage' the MPs, in turn, will elect a President in he second-order elections (indirect suffrage)'', the paper explains, further noting that the same draft says the president will be elected in direct universal suffrage, that is to say, directly by the people. For the paper, the President provided for in the draft constitution is a '' weak President, having no effective powers''. The draft includes some innovations such as ''the constitutional regionalism'' endowing the provinces with ''legal personality, autonomy in the management of economic, human, financial and technical resources and the status of the opposition leader'' to be guaranteed by the Constitution. The Opposition Leader referred to is the one having the highest number of seats on the National Assembly, the paper says.
In another development, L'AVENIR reports that General Félix Buja Mabe, commander of 10th military region 'goes to war against Interhamwe in Walungu. General Mbuja Mabe allegedly voiced his intention to deploy troops on Walungu district to stop the exactions committed by uncontrolled foreign troops, particularly, the Interahamwe, the paper says, highlighting that FARDC will need MONUC support for successful operations. The paper also says that this would be the first time for MONUC and FARDC to organise such joint operations in the South Kivu since November 1999.
LE PALMARES further echoes a new report issued by UN experts on illegal exploitation of DRC resources, ratified by the United Nations Security Council. According to the paper, the UN Security Council has dropped its decision to punish those involved in the illegal exploitation of the DRC natural resources. The paper points out that the lifting of the prosecution comes in at a time when it is obvious that illegal exploitation of DRC natural resources continues. The paper is of the strong opinion that ''the firms named in the previous reports allegedly pressured the UN to get it to drop the prosecutions''.
LE PHARE reports clashes between the PPRD and MLC supporters Sunday in Gemena district, in the province of Equateur. According to the paper, the incidents broke out when a PPRD delegation arrived in Mbandaka, ''to organise the visit of Vital Kamerhe, PPRD (President Kabila's political Party) Secretary-General to the MLC (Political Party led by Vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba) stronghold''. The move apparently did not please MLC supporters. They considered it to be an unacceptable act of provocation, the paper says, indicating that the incidents constitute a ''bad omen for the electoral campaign''. FORUM DES AS notes that Vital Kamerhe meant to ''challenge'' Jean-Pierre Bemba in his stronghold by attempting to travel to Equateur.
