UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
6 Mar
2009
Press Review
Today's local papers echo the diverse reactions sparked off by the suspension of six ministers and a dozen CEOs as well as the consequences of such an action. The papers also go back over Rwanda's threat to attack FDLR in DRC.
In its special edition, LE POTENTIEL conveys the reactions of the ministers suspended by President Kabila last week following accusations of mismanagement. The paper says José Endundo, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructures, denies being involved in any embezzlement. Joseph Olenghankoy, Minister of Transports and Communications, promised to reveal ''what lies below the tip of the iceberg'' and warned that he ''won't be pushed around''. The minister of Mines, Eugène Diomi Ndongala considers himself a ''victim of his Ministry's policy on reviving the mining sector through fighting fraud and smuggling on one hand, and on the other, a successful establishment of his political party''. Joseph Mundumbi, for his part declares that he is victim of intolerance and manipulation in his party. ''For refusing to compromise on matters of principle with respect to the Transition, they have named me just to sully my reputation'', Mr. Mudumbi says in a statement. LE POTENTIEL however notes that the other ministers suspended declined to ''make any comment''.
Be that as it may, ''the representatives of the Breton Woods institutions applaud the suspensive action that fits with the creation of a stable macroeconomic environment and the stimulation of economic growth in the DRC'', L'OBSERVATEUR says, further indicating that diplomats also hailed ''the decision that was very courageously made'' by President Joseph Kabila. ''They say President Kabila has kept his promise to fight corruption, embezzlement and mismanagement'', the paper writes, announcing in the same breath that the suspended CEOs are due to hand over management of public firms this Monday.
LE PHARE, for its part, refers to ''operation clean hands'' and titles Joseph Kabila (is) about to initiate legal proceedings, alluding to ''reliable information''. The paper believes that the Head of State will shortly refer the case to the State Prosecutor's office, ''to hear the suspended ministers''. The daily expresses hopes that the rules of law will be respected and the suspended ministers would be allowed to defend themselves ''since they are presumably innocent until proven guilty''.
LE PALMARES, in turn, publishes a list of the CEOs overlooked by the suspension decree initiated by the Minister in charge of public firms. According to the paper, ''the suspension action does overlook some of the firms accused of chronic mismanagement'', notably the CEEC (Expertise and Control Centre), Regideso (Water Distribution Firm), Sonas (National Assurance Company) and RVM (Maritime Company).
The International Committee for the Support of the Transition (CIAT) issued a communiqué about CEOs appointment. L'AVENIR goes back over the communiqué and says ''the institution expected to sort out the situation has responded ambiguously and thrown back the dossier to the presidential circle''. The paper highlights that ''CIAT has insisted on the need for professional and apolitical running of the public firms, urging consensus as the best means for resolving this issue''. The paper further recalls that different stakeholders are at cross-purpose with respect to the practical modalities for appointment of public and mixt firms. Some of its members however opt for the political institutions and institutions for the support of democracy-like sharing, whilst others sees such an option as ''immoral''.
The headlines in LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES read: MPs demand Boshab's removal, alluding to the naming of the Director of President Kabila's private cabinet in embezzlement of public funds. The paper quotes the audit report of the Parliament Commission as stating that Evariste Boshab squeezed out 3.2 million dollars paid by Congo Brazzaville to SNEL (National Electrical company). As a result, MPs proposed the suspension of the President's Cabinet Director, as the President did to the six ministers'''to avoid applying the policy of double standards''.
On another subject, LA REFERENCE PLUS goes back over the threat of Rwandan intervention in the DRC to neutralise the Hutus rebels who took refuge in DRC. According to the paper, Paul Kagame uses the threat of intervention ''to alert the international community'' to this problem. However, the paper quotes a Congolese diplomat as indicating that President Paul Kagame's threat to intervene in DRC with a view to neutralising Rwandan rebels ''actually aims the DRC natural resources''.
In this regard, LE PALMARES reports that Rwanda has already executed its threat for, according to ''reliable sources, Rwandan armed troops entered the DRC yesterday through Rutshuru, in Lubero''.
Be that as it may, ''the representatives of the Breton Woods institutions applaud the suspensive action that fits with the creation of a stable macroeconomic environment and the stimulation of economic growth in the DRC'', L'OBSERVATEUR says, further indicating that diplomats also hailed ''the decision that was very courageously made'' by President Joseph Kabila. ''They say President Kabila has kept his promise to fight corruption, embezzlement and mismanagement'', the paper writes, announcing in the same breath that the suspended CEOs are due to hand over management of public firms this Monday.
LE PHARE, for its part, refers to ''operation clean hands'' and titles Joseph Kabila (is) about to initiate legal proceedings, alluding to ''reliable information''. The paper believes that the Head of State will shortly refer the case to the State Prosecutor's office, ''to hear the suspended ministers''. The daily expresses hopes that the rules of law will be respected and the suspended ministers would be allowed to defend themselves ''since they are presumably innocent until proven guilty''.
LE PALMARES, in turn, publishes a list of the CEOs overlooked by the suspension decree initiated by the Minister in charge of public firms. According to the paper, ''the suspension action does overlook some of the firms accused of chronic mismanagement'', notably the CEEC (Expertise and Control Centre), Regideso (Water Distribution Firm), Sonas (National Assurance Company) and RVM (Maritime Company).
The International Committee for the Support of the Transition (CIAT) issued a communiqué about CEOs appointment. L'AVENIR goes back over the communiqué and says ''the institution expected to sort out the situation has responded ambiguously and thrown back the dossier to the presidential circle''. The paper highlights that ''CIAT has insisted on the need for professional and apolitical running of the public firms, urging consensus as the best means for resolving this issue''. The paper further recalls that different stakeholders are at cross-purpose with respect to the practical modalities for appointment of public and mixt firms. Some of its members however opt for the political institutions and institutions for the support of democracy-like sharing, whilst others sees such an option as ''immoral''.
The headlines in LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES read: MPs demand Boshab's removal, alluding to the naming of the Director of President Kabila's private cabinet in embezzlement of public funds. The paper quotes the audit report of the Parliament Commission as stating that Evariste Boshab squeezed out 3.2 million dollars paid by Congo Brazzaville to SNEL (National Electrical company). As a result, MPs proposed the suspension of the President's Cabinet Director, as the President did to the six ministers'''to avoid applying the policy of double standards''.
On another subject, LA REFERENCE PLUS goes back over the threat of Rwandan intervention in the DRC to neutralise the Hutus rebels who took refuge in DRC. According to the paper, Paul Kagame uses the threat of intervention ''to alert the international community'' to this problem. However, the paper quotes a Congolese diplomat as indicating that President Paul Kagame's threat to intervene in DRC with a view to neutralising Rwandan rebels ''actually aims the DRC natural resources''.
In this regard, LE PALMARES reports that Rwanda has already executed its threat for, according to ''reliable sources, Rwandan armed troops entered the DRC yesterday through Rutshuru, in Lubero''.
