UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
4 Mar
2009
Press Review
Yesterday's cabinet reshuffle is the major headlines in today's local press in Kinshasa.
''A distinctive feature in this technical reshuffle is the removal of Roger Nimy, Tourism minister, from the Transitional Government', says Le Potentiel. He is replaced by José Engbanda, the Press and Information deputy-minister.
''A distinctive feature in this technical reshuffle is the removal of Roger Nimy, Tourism minister, from the Transitional Government', says Le Potentiel. He is replaced by José Engbanda, the Press and Information deputy-minister.
The paper further says, 'Valentin Senga, Interior deputy-minister, has been appointed Minister of Agriculture as the replacement for retiring Justin Kangundu. Ndom Nda Ombel, MPR fait privé's defector, has made a spectacular entrance in the government'in replacement for Elysée Munembwe'''.
Le Potentiel, drawing some lessons from the cabinet reshuffle, indicates that the reshuffle mainly concerned the MLC components led by Vice-President Jean Pierre Bemba. By removing Roger Nimy, the paper says, the MLC was trying 'to provoke a collective government action.'' The paper recalled that pro-Kabila ministers had previously demanded the resignation of the Tourism minister, after the latter spoke to president Kabila in an irreverent manner.
This leads Le Phare to write 'Kabila has obtained Nimy's head'. The paper considers Minister Nimy's removal as a response to the pressure given by President Kabila and the PPRD ministers for a disciplinary action against Roger Nimy following what they referred to as an affront to the presidential function. 'The guilty minister's head has finally fallen on the government ex-component's silver plate'', writes the paper, explaining that for the MLC there are three arguments in favor of the reshuffle, mainly the reinforcement of the government team with the newly appointed ''vertebrates'' and the concern for a non-conflicting situation as recommended by the All-inclusive Agreement. The MLC finally said that it reserves the right to reassign some of its outgoing members to other functions. However, in a short article, referring to Roger Nimy's removal, the paper says 'JP Bemba's apparent good will is mainly aimed at securing the removal of Joseph Olenghankoy' ' who reportedly made insulting and slanderous statement against Vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba. 'Otherwise', notes the paper, 'MLC ministers would take revenge by boycotting Cabinet meetings''.
L'Avenir points out that this reshuffle, which mainly concerns MLC cabinet members, comes after an earlier reshuffle initiated by the government ex-component that removed the finance minister Mutombo Kyamakoso. The paper therefore asks whose turn will be the next!
Forum des As, in turn, announces that after the reshuffle within the MLC, RDC-Goma, PPRD and Opposition ministers are on the alert. The MLC is expecting '' RDC-Goma, the Political Opposition and the ex-government component to operate the changes in order to give new momentum to the transition''.
Approximately one hundred people killed by militiamen in Ituri, announces La Tempête des Tropiques, adding that the victims were reportedly killed yesterday at Gobu, a territory situated 50 km north-east of Bunia. The paper further indicates that a joint mission comprising representatives of the Ituri Interim Administration, MONUC, FNI, UPC and other armed groups traveled to the scene of the massacre for verification. ''MONUC has not officially confirmed the shocking news'', notes the paper.
Referring to the attacks on MONUC troops in Ituri, Le Phare reveals that William Swing has blamed Thomas Lubanga, UPC leader whom he summoned to explain that 'MONUC came to the DRC to help the Congolese people recover peace and must therefore not be the target of any armed group''. The paper congratulates MONUC for having blamed the warlord.
At the same time 3,000 Rwandans are prevented from returning home by Rwandan Hutu extremists, indicates La Référence Plus, quoting the MONUC Spokesman. The paper adds that at least 3,000 Rwandan combatants and civilians have been taken hostage in the North Kivu forest by the extremists opposed to their voluntary repatriation. The extremists are, for the majority, members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), says the paper.
L'Avenir further announces that William Swing is due to fly to Kisangani this Friday within the framework of MONUC Quick Impact Projects. The MONUC chief is to inaugurate a center for the deaf-mute and a hall for Kisangani University female students, reports the paper.
Le Potentiel, drawing some lessons from the cabinet reshuffle, indicates that the reshuffle mainly concerned the MLC components led by Vice-President Jean Pierre Bemba. By removing Roger Nimy, the paper says, the MLC was trying 'to provoke a collective government action.'' The paper recalled that pro-Kabila ministers had previously demanded the resignation of the Tourism minister, after the latter spoke to president Kabila in an irreverent manner.
This leads Le Phare to write 'Kabila has obtained Nimy's head'. The paper considers Minister Nimy's removal as a response to the pressure given by President Kabila and the PPRD ministers for a disciplinary action against Roger Nimy following what they referred to as an affront to the presidential function. 'The guilty minister's head has finally fallen on the government ex-component's silver plate'', writes the paper, explaining that for the MLC there are three arguments in favor of the reshuffle, mainly the reinforcement of the government team with the newly appointed ''vertebrates'' and the concern for a non-conflicting situation as recommended by the All-inclusive Agreement. The MLC finally said that it reserves the right to reassign some of its outgoing members to other functions. However, in a short article, referring to Roger Nimy's removal, the paper says 'JP Bemba's apparent good will is mainly aimed at securing the removal of Joseph Olenghankoy' ' who reportedly made insulting and slanderous statement against Vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba. 'Otherwise', notes the paper, 'MLC ministers would take revenge by boycotting Cabinet meetings''.
L'Avenir points out that this reshuffle, which mainly concerns MLC cabinet members, comes after an earlier reshuffle initiated by the government ex-component that removed the finance minister Mutombo Kyamakoso. The paper therefore asks whose turn will be the next!
Forum des As, in turn, announces that after the reshuffle within the MLC, RDC-Goma, PPRD and Opposition ministers are on the alert. The MLC is expecting '' RDC-Goma, the Political Opposition and the ex-government component to operate the changes in order to give new momentum to the transition''.
Approximately one hundred people killed by militiamen in Ituri, announces La Tempête des Tropiques, adding that the victims were reportedly killed yesterday at Gobu, a territory situated 50 km north-east of Bunia. The paper further indicates that a joint mission comprising representatives of the Ituri Interim Administration, MONUC, FNI, UPC and other armed groups traveled to the scene of the massacre for verification. ''MONUC has not officially confirmed the shocking news'', notes the paper.
Referring to the attacks on MONUC troops in Ituri, Le Phare reveals that William Swing has blamed Thomas Lubanga, UPC leader whom he summoned to explain that 'MONUC came to the DRC to help the Congolese people recover peace and must therefore not be the target of any armed group''. The paper congratulates MONUC for having blamed the warlord.
At the same time 3,000 Rwandans are prevented from returning home by Rwandan Hutu extremists, indicates La Référence Plus, quoting the MONUC Spokesman. The paper adds that at least 3,000 Rwandan combatants and civilians have been taken hostage in the North Kivu forest by the extremists opposed to their voluntary repatriation. The extremists are, for the majority, members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), says the paper.
L'Avenir further announces that William Swing is due to fly to Kisangani this Friday within the framework of MONUC Quick Impact Projects. The MONUC chief is to inaugurate a center for the deaf-mute and a hall for Kisangani University female students, reports the paper.
