Alluding to the 17 December clashes, Le Potentiel echoes the FARDC commanders in Katale that "It is Laurent Nkunda's rebel troops that attacked the positions of the regular army troops in the Kahundu mountains," adding, "the rebel troops were defeated after six-hour fight by Government troops."

As a result of the fight, says the paper, "several families fled their homes and took refuge in the surrounding villages, notably: Nyabiondo, Lwashi and Bugabo," highlighting, "the restoration of Government's authority across the country is essential to spare the population further suffering."

With reference to eastern DRC, Le Palmarès reports, "in spite of the ongoing preparation for the peace conference in the Kivus, Nkunda maintains pressures."
The headlines in L`Avenir read: "Kivus leaders are wasting time; the peace conference due for 9 days will only start on 27 December on a bitter taste." The paper advocates for the participation of the traditional and religious leaders in the peace conference on the grounds that "There is a spiritual aspect in the South Kivus problems."

Le Phare doubts "the peace conference on the Kivus will deliver," and refers to "the end of an illusion of grandeur in the DRC."
In other news, Le Potentiel discloses "DRC round table on the security sector reform will be held on 15 February."

L`Observateur, for its part, reports "over 300 members of the civil society took to the streets in Bukavu Tuesday to demonstrate against the repeated wars in eastern DRC."
Le Palmarès, for its part, reports "MLC chairman, Jean-Pierre Bemba is on a 15-day private visit to Belgium since Tuesday."