UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
Press Review 23 March 2005
UN Deputy Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs, Ian Egeland's statement on DRC security and humanitarian situations as well as the electoral process are the major subjects dealt with by today's local press.
For Le Phare, « The UN lump the government and militiamen together and tar them with the same brush». Indeed, Le Phare reports, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Ian Egeland, singles out « the implication of the government soldiers in the acts of harassment against the local population». Knowing that it is « the absence of any logistic support and salaries» that « pushes the soldiers to commit exactions on the population», the UN « calls for the transition Government to assumer its responsibilities» writes Le Phare.
La Tempête des Tropiques sees the OCHA communiqué as an « alert » by Aid workers warning against « the transposition of Ituri situation to South Kivu. «Increase of discontent against local political authorities and activism by several armed groups noticed a few months ago will contribute to further deteriorating the already volatile atmosphere», the paper says.
The press announces the rehabilitation of the 7th transit site for the Ituri ex-combatants by UNDP. « After unprecedented efforts» Le Phare writes, UNDP has set up a site to accommodate combatants « in six days ». The first combatants were received on 21 March. They were «chanting and dancing», the paper further says.
La Référence Plus reports on the squabbling between the National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (CONADER) and the Committee for the Management of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration process (CGFDR). The latter accuses CONADER of incompetence. « As of now, not a single bill has been produced by CONADER» CGFDR administrator told La Référence Plus. « There is indeed a problem of competence in the CONADER», La Référence Plus concludes.
Concerning the electoral process, La Référence Plus titles: 'we will not be able to avoid the first prolongation on 30 June», alluding to Father Apollinaire Malu Malu, head of CEI who concluded his analysis by saying, «the holding of elections by 30 June 2005 is a utopia», La Référence Plus says.
Le Phare denounces «Kagame's gamble». The paper analyses the statement made by Richard Sezibera, Kagame's special envoy to the Great Lakes, published in the Brussels' paper « Le Soir » on Monday 21 March. Le Phare dismisses the statements issued by Rwandan official pretending that there are « 3.5 million Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese». «We were greatly surprised», the paper writes, pointing out « There were 5 million people living the ex-Kivu before the war broke out». Can we conclude, « 80% of the population in Kivu were of the Kinyarwanda-speaking community' Le Phare sees these allegations as the preparation of elections rigging. « It should not be excluded that clusters of Rwandans come to the DRC for enrolment» the paper warns.
La Tempête des Tropiques devotes its headlines to the situation in the Tenth military region's command in South Kivu where General « Félix Budja Mabe is reportedly sitting on an ejector seat». the paper says, further indicating that 'those who are planning the coup are fearing the population's reactions in Bukavu and Kinshasa.. The presence of Budja Mabe at the head of the Tenth military Region « embarrasses those who are trying to undermine the peace process», the paper says, recalling that this officer is credited with « preventing foreigners from conducting their military adventures in South Kivu».
«RCD threatens to block the Constitution », Le Potentiel announces, « Federalist, RCD leadership RCD did not appreciate» that Senators have opted for the unitary form of State, and vowed to advocate this loudly at the National Assembly. « It is fair enough'. Le Potentiel says, expressing its apprehension over RCD's determination to « block » the process if the National Assembly confirmed the unitary option of the State.
La Tempête des Tropiques sees the OCHA communiqué as an « alert » by Aid workers warning against « the transposition of Ituri situation to South Kivu. «Increase of discontent against local political authorities and activism by several armed groups noticed a few months ago will contribute to further deteriorating the already volatile atmosphere», the paper says.
The press announces the rehabilitation of the 7th transit site for the Ituri ex-combatants by UNDP. « After unprecedented efforts» Le Phare writes, UNDP has set up a site to accommodate combatants « in six days ». The first combatants were received on 21 March. They were «chanting and dancing», the paper further says.
La Référence Plus reports on the squabbling between the National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (CONADER) and the Committee for the Management of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration process (CGFDR). The latter accuses CONADER of incompetence. « As of now, not a single bill has been produced by CONADER» CGFDR administrator told La Référence Plus. « There is indeed a problem of competence in the CONADER», La Référence Plus concludes.
Concerning the electoral process, La Référence Plus titles: 'we will not be able to avoid the first prolongation on 30 June», alluding to Father Apollinaire Malu Malu, head of CEI who concluded his analysis by saying, «the holding of elections by 30 June 2005 is a utopia», La Référence Plus says.
Le Phare denounces «Kagame's gamble». The paper analyses the statement made by Richard Sezibera, Kagame's special envoy to the Great Lakes, published in the Brussels' paper « Le Soir » on Monday 21 March. Le Phare dismisses the statements issued by Rwandan official pretending that there are « 3.5 million Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese». «We were greatly surprised», the paper writes, pointing out « There were 5 million people living the ex-Kivu before the war broke out». Can we conclude, « 80% of the population in Kivu were of the Kinyarwanda-speaking community' Le Phare sees these allegations as the preparation of elections rigging. « It should not be excluded that clusters of Rwandans come to the DRC for enrolment» the paper warns.
La Tempête des Tropiques devotes its headlines to the situation in the Tenth military region's command in South Kivu where General « Félix Budja Mabe is reportedly sitting on an ejector seat». the paper says, further indicating that 'those who are planning the coup are fearing the population's reactions in Bukavu and Kinshasa.. The presence of Budja Mabe at the head of the Tenth military Region « embarrasses those who are trying to undermine the peace process», the paper says, recalling that this officer is credited with « preventing foreigners from conducting their military adventures in South Kivu».
«RCD threatens to block the Constitution », Le Potentiel announces, « Federalist, RCD leadership RCD did not appreciate» that Senators have opted for the unitary form of State, and vowed to advocate this loudly at the National Assembly. « It is fair enough'. Le Potentiel says, expressing its apprehension over RCD's determination to « block » the process if the National Assembly confirmed the unitary option of the State.
