UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
6 Mar
2009
Press Review
The security agreement reached by the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda is the dominant subject in today's local press in Kinshasa.
The DRC, Rwanda and Uganda Foreign Affairs Ministers' meeting in Kigali on 25-26 October reached an agreement on security along their common borders, L'OBSERVATEUR reports, adding that the agreement is mainly focused on the sensitive issue relating to the disarmament of armed groups. ''The agreement specifies that the three countries should neutralise the armed groups responsible for the various damages in the region within the defence and security commission set up for this purpose'', the paper says, highlighting that it was a US-sponsored meeting. The paper further recalls that a previous tripartite meeting was held in Washington last September that led to the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the three countries to put in place a verification mechanism along their common borders.
''We agreed to put in place a tripartite mechanism that would help sort out all regional security-issues'', LA REFERENCE PLUS quoted Rwandan Foreign Affairs minister, Charles Murigande, as saying. The paper also echoes a declaration made by the Congolese Foreign Affairs Minister, Ramazani Baya that ''armed groups may completely be neutralised within twelve months if the international community effectively releases the promised logistical support''. The Kigali-signed agreement foresees the meeting of the three countries' Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers every two months to address the peace and security-related issues in the region, the paper reports.
Despite the reached agreement, new tension is reported between Kinshasa and Kigali, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES writes, reporting the closing of the Ruzizi I border, between Bukavu, South Kivu and Cyangungu, Rwanda. ''Congolese said they were victims of brutalities from Rwandan civilians while in Cyangungu market in Rwanda'', the paper says, adding that ''the exactions were the result of the killing of a Rwandan national, a few days ago, by the 10th military region while attempting to illegally enter the Congolese territory during the night''.
LE POTENTIEL refers to the Amnesty international report on the Eastern DRC-committed rapes as the most ''striking, tragic and painful one''. Giving a brief outlines of the report, the paper says that according to the Amnesty International, the extent of the rapes is indicative of ''a two-level crises: in the areas of human rights and health''. The paper goes on to say that, ''dozens of thousands women, young girls and even children at a lower age were systematically raped in the Eastern DRC where over twenty armed groups were fighting over lands and resources''. The report highlights that ''some people were victims of repeated rapes and others of sexual violence from different warring forces. Others were either raped by over twenty-five combatants or forced to sexual slavery for months or years''. The paper further says that they also inflicted ''sexual tortures on the victims by introducing bayonets or a sharp-edged stick into the vagina, wounding the victims by shooting gun into the vagina'''. LE POTENTIEL says, the Amnesty International report points an accusing finger at the Government for failing to ''make significant progress on the basic issues relating to the country's future and stability''. The paper notes that political procrastination and deliberate obstructions delayed the effective reforms and functioning of government institutions. ''This situation prolonged the suffering of thousands of women and young girls, victims of rapes who continue to pay a heavy price with their health and dignity'', the report underscores.
Kofi Annan special advisor on the sexual abuses blamed the UN personnel in Bunia, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES writes on its front page, indicating that his Royal Highness Zied of Jordania, arrived on a three-day visit to Bunia, Ituri on 26 October to follow up on the investigations about the sexual abuses which some UN staff members were accused of.
L'AVENIR focuses on the disagreement between the Senate and Parliament over the draft law on nationality, indicating that each chamber will submit its version to President Kabila for promulgation. The paper further says that both chambers have however adopted the article 6 of the law relating to native Congolese but with different perspectives. The Parliament's text reads: ''Is Congolese, any person belonging to ethnical groups whose nationality, people and territory constituted in the past what became Congo, currently the Democratic Republic of Congo, at independence''. The Senate's texts read: ''Is True Congolese, any person belonging to ethnical groups whose nationalities, ancestors and territory constituted what became Congo, currently the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the independence''.
In other news, LE PHARE says it is waiting for '' Kinshasa's response'', to the sharp criticisms made by Belgium Foreign Affairs Minister, Karel De Gucht. The paper deems right for the government to give an appropriate response that would fit in the ''logic of the redefinition of the managerial methods to be applied during the remaining 8 months leading to the general elections''.
FORUM DES AS, on its part, expresses serious concerns about the prolonged visit of Vice-President Azarias Ruberwa to the USA. ''There has been no sign of him since he left the country over three weeks ago'', the paper writes, noting that the prolonged absence of the Vice-president in charge of Political, Defence and Security matters is already making waves.
''We agreed to put in place a tripartite mechanism that would help sort out all regional security-issues'', LA REFERENCE PLUS quoted Rwandan Foreign Affairs minister, Charles Murigande, as saying. The paper also echoes a declaration made by the Congolese Foreign Affairs Minister, Ramazani Baya that ''armed groups may completely be neutralised within twelve months if the international community effectively releases the promised logistical support''. The Kigali-signed agreement foresees the meeting of the three countries' Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers every two months to address the peace and security-related issues in the region, the paper reports.
Despite the reached agreement, new tension is reported between Kinshasa and Kigali, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES writes, reporting the closing of the Ruzizi I border, between Bukavu, South Kivu and Cyangungu, Rwanda. ''Congolese said they were victims of brutalities from Rwandan civilians while in Cyangungu market in Rwanda'', the paper says, adding that ''the exactions were the result of the killing of a Rwandan national, a few days ago, by the 10th military region while attempting to illegally enter the Congolese territory during the night''.
LE POTENTIEL refers to the Amnesty international report on the Eastern DRC-committed rapes as the most ''striking, tragic and painful one''. Giving a brief outlines of the report, the paper says that according to the Amnesty International, the extent of the rapes is indicative of ''a two-level crises: in the areas of human rights and health''. The paper goes on to say that, ''dozens of thousands women, young girls and even children at a lower age were systematically raped in the Eastern DRC where over twenty armed groups were fighting over lands and resources''. The report highlights that ''some people were victims of repeated rapes and others of sexual violence from different warring forces. Others were either raped by over twenty-five combatants or forced to sexual slavery for months or years''. The paper further says that they also inflicted ''sexual tortures on the victims by introducing bayonets or a sharp-edged stick into the vagina, wounding the victims by shooting gun into the vagina'''. LE POTENTIEL says, the Amnesty International report points an accusing finger at the Government for failing to ''make significant progress on the basic issues relating to the country's future and stability''. The paper notes that political procrastination and deliberate obstructions delayed the effective reforms and functioning of government institutions. ''This situation prolonged the suffering of thousands of women and young girls, victims of rapes who continue to pay a heavy price with their health and dignity'', the report underscores.
Kofi Annan special advisor on the sexual abuses blamed the UN personnel in Bunia, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES writes on its front page, indicating that his Royal Highness Zied of Jordania, arrived on a three-day visit to Bunia, Ituri on 26 October to follow up on the investigations about the sexual abuses which some UN staff members were accused of.
L'AVENIR focuses on the disagreement between the Senate and Parliament over the draft law on nationality, indicating that each chamber will submit its version to President Kabila for promulgation. The paper further says that both chambers have however adopted the article 6 of the law relating to native Congolese but with different perspectives. The Parliament's text reads: ''Is Congolese, any person belonging to ethnical groups whose nationality, people and territory constituted in the past what became Congo, currently the Democratic Republic of Congo, at independence''. The Senate's texts read: ''Is True Congolese, any person belonging to ethnical groups whose nationalities, ancestors and territory constituted what became Congo, currently the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the independence''.
In other news, LE PHARE says it is waiting for '' Kinshasa's response'', to the sharp criticisms made by Belgium Foreign Affairs Minister, Karel De Gucht. The paper deems right for the government to give an appropriate response that would fit in the ''logic of the redefinition of the managerial methods to be applied during the remaining 8 months leading to the general elections''.
FORUM DES AS, on its part, expresses serious concerns about the prolonged visit of Vice-President Azarias Ruberwa to the USA. ''There has been no sign of him since he left the country over three weeks ago'', the paper writes, noting that the prolonged absence of the Vice-president in charge of Political, Defence and Security matters is already making waves.
