UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
4 Mar
2009
Press Review
This Monday, 26 January 2004, marks the third anniversary of President Joseph Kabila's accession to power in DRC. The local press in Kinshasa reviews president Kabila's actions. The spotlight is also put on Joseph Olengankoy, Minister of Transport and Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba.
Le Potentiel, offers its readers a trilogy of Major General Joseph Kabila's accession to power: ''1. His appointment by the High military command and the Public Salvation Government following the assassination of his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila; 2. The endorsement of his appointment by the Constituent and Legislative Assembly/Transitional parliament and, 3. His swearing-in before the Supreme Court of Justice''. The paper reveals that upon succeeding his father on 26 January 2001, Joseph Kabila committed himself to address a number of challenges during his term of office. '' To date, of the eleven promises made by Joseph Kabila, only three have been fulfilled: the judiciary investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Laurent-Désiré Kabila, the revival of the Lusaka Agreement and the organization of the Inter-Congolese dialogue'', reports the paper, noting that the outstanding commitments are ''an open-door policy with Africa and the World, profound changes in the vital areas relating to national life, inclusive internal politics, the restoration of peace with the unconditional withdrawal of foreign troops, the democratization of the DRC, the organization of elections, the national reconstruction and the liberalization of the mining market with the publication of a mining code''.
More optimistic, L'Avenir points out that three years after his accession to the presidency, Joseph Kabila faces the challenge of peace in the DRC. Recalling the objectives set by the president himself, namely the pacification of the DRC, the opening of politics, the liberalization of the market, the stabilization of the macro-economic framework and the improvement of Congolese living conditions, the paper considers that three years later, ''the bet is won by the Head of State, despite the imperfections inherent to human nature''.
Referring to Joseph Kabila's career, Forum des As notes that he rose from the contested President to a unanimously recognized Head of State. The paper recalls that ''no one ever believed that this young discreet president about whom very little is known, could hold out, for the three years, at the helm of this sub-continent''. Jean-Pierre Bemba (Vice-president) wants Olenghankoy's head, announces La Référence Plus, indicating that a price is put on the Transports minister's head by the MLC, calling for his removal from the Government. This follows his irreverent statement against Jean-Pierre Bemba. The paper recalls that MLC's claim proceeds from a legal precedent set by Roger Nimy's case having led to ''the removal of the Tourism minister for making a discourteous statement against the Head of State'MLC would like the same action to be taken against the quick-tempered Olenghankoy''.
Olenghankoy's case poisons Government atmosphere, entitles Le Phare, noting that ''the atmosphere has seriously deteriorated within the government since Olenghankoy's case arose, following Nimy's''. The paper announces that Jean-Pierre Bemba's threat to have his ministers boycott the cabinet meetings led to the suspension of Olenghankoy. The suspension would be until an ' appropriate disciplinary action is taken against him for his insulting statement against Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba''. The paper explains that it is for this reason that the Minister of Transports was not seen at the African Union Estate during last Friday's meeting.
The crisis reportedly provoked some agitations within the political opposition in the Transitional Government, some members of which have called for the removal of Joseph Olenghankoy and other ministers considered as incompetent, reports La Tempête des Tropiques.
After the virulent message addressed to the members of parliament by the Head of State, Olivier Kamitatu (Head of the Parliament), responds to Joseph Kabila, writes Le Palmarès. The journal adds that ''Far from any polemics, Olivier Kamitatu's text' has the merit of steeping in consensualism and bringing out the points that clear members of parliament from the grievance of slowness''.
More optimistic, L'Avenir points out that three years after his accession to the presidency, Joseph Kabila faces the challenge of peace in the DRC. Recalling the objectives set by the president himself, namely the pacification of the DRC, the opening of politics, the liberalization of the market, the stabilization of the macro-economic framework and the improvement of Congolese living conditions, the paper considers that three years later, ''the bet is won by the Head of State, despite the imperfections inherent to human nature''.
Referring to Joseph Kabila's career, Forum des As notes that he rose from the contested President to a unanimously recognized Head of State. The paper recalls that ''no one ever believed that this young discreet president about whom very little is known, could hold out, for the three years, at the helm of this sub-continent''. Jean-Pierre Bemba (Vice-president) wants Olenghankoy's head, announces La Référence Plus, indicating that a price is put on the Transports minister's head by the MLC, calling for his removal from the Government. This follows his irreverent statement against Jean-Pierre Bemba. The paper recalls that MLC's claim proceeds from a legal precedent set by Roger Nimy's case having led to ''the removal of the Tourism minister for making a discourteous statement against the Head of State'MLC would like the same action to be taken against the quick-tempered Olenghankoy''.
Olenghankoy's case poisons Government atmosphere, entitles Le Phare, noting that ''the atmosphere has seriously deteriorated within the government since Olenghankoy's case arose, following Nimy's''. The paper announces that Jean-Pierre Bemba's threat to have his ministers boycott the cabinet meetings led to the suspension of Olenghankoy. The suspension would be until an ' appropriate disciplinary action is taken against him for his insulting statement against Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba''. The paper explains that it is for this reason that the Minister of Transports was not seen at the African Union Estate during last Friday's meeting.
The crisis reportedly provoked some agitations within the political opposition in the Transitional Government, some members of which have called for the removal of Joseph Olenghankoy and other ministers considered as incompetent, reports La Tempête des Tropiques.
After the virulent message addressed to the members of parliament by the Head of State, Olivier Kamitatu (Head of the Parliament), responds to Joseph Kabila, writes Le Palmarès. The journal adds that ''Far from any polemics, Olivier Kamitatu's text' has the merit of steeping in consensualism and bringing out the points that clear members of parliament from the grievance of slowness''.
