UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
5 Mar
2009
Press Review
Today's local press in Kinshasa focus on various topics relating to the DRC transitional process, amongst others, the current discussions regarding the new UN mandate at the UN headquarters in New York and the tensions in the Kivus.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC, William Swing, is due to hold consultations this Friday 16 July 2004 in New York with the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, L'Observateur announces, further indicating that Monuc's chief will also hold talks with the UN Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno. ''Ambassador Swing travelled to New York to seek resources to enable Monuc to fulfil its mandate in accompanying the DRC transition process'', during the new mandate, the current one expires on the coming 31 July. The paper quotes reliable sources from New York as indicating that 'Monuc's new mandate will run up to the free and democratic elections in DRC'. The paper echoes a statement made by a diplomat of a member country of the United Nations Security Council in New York that 'the DRC elections planned for 2005 will certainly be a landmark in the history of the African continent which will be monitored by Monuc''.
Referring to the elections, L'Avenir announces that France has disbursed 5 million euros for the organisation of the elections in DRC. 'The amount has been earmarked for the running of the Independent Electoral Commission', the paper further says, applauding the contribution made by France. It urges the other partners and the Congolese themselves to follow suit ''so that the process would smoothly proceed forward''. In the meantime, the paper considers that 'eastern DRC must be well guarded for a safe transition'.
With regard to the situation in eastern DRC, La Référence Plus headlines: General Nkunda spreads terror in North Kivu. The paper adds that Minova district, situated 50 km or so in the town of Goma, ''thrown into a panic by the troops of the RCD dissident General Laurent Nkundabatware'. The paper refers to an 'indescribable fear and weariness' visibly read on the faces of the district residents caused by 'Laurent Nkunda and his 4000 troops recently driven out of Bukavu by General Mbuja Mabe'. It mentions the rapes suffered by women and young girls in Minova. The paper also reports that Laurent Nkunda obliges the population to pay one dollar a month per adult person, 5 dollars out of the business activities and 20 dollars out of the farming and mining activities.
More alarming, Le Potentiel calls attention on the risks of unrest in eastern DRC. The paper recalls that the ultimatum, which the commander of the 10th military region addressed at the beginning of the week to the chief mutineer withdrawn to Minova, expires by Friday 16 July. 'General Félix Mbuza Mabe's message orders Laurent Nkunda to withdraw from Minova district', the paper says, noting that the sword of Damocles is as of now hanging on Nkunda's head. General Mbuza Mabe's ultimatum expiring today, the paper wonders what will happen this weekend. If the regular army attacks Nkunda's positions, there will be 'total war in the east', the paper says, calling on the Government to urgently determine the insurgents' fate. This is also requested by the International Committee to Accompany the Transition (ICST) in a declaration issued on Thursday with regard to the evolution of the Transition's process in DRC, the paper indicates.
In this regard, Le Palmarès published in full ICST communiqué in which the International Committee declares being ''seriously concerned by the deterioration of the security situation in eastern DRC, and the withdrawal of some signatory members to the All-inclusive Agreement from the Transitional process', alluding to the decision by eight MPs of the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) to suspend their participation in the National Assembly. La Tempête des Tropiques, in turn, echoes Monuc's reaction indicating that ''the empty seat policy is not productive'' and quotes the Mission's Spokesman as declaring that ''those who pulled out of the transition risks marginalizing themselves''.
Following a ''pernicious climate'' prevailing within RCD, ''the key actors of the reformist wing intervened yesterday to claim the resignation of their national leader, Azarias Ruberwa'', Forum des As indicates, adding that ''the key actors regrouped in the reformist wing declared that they were acting for the supreme interest of the RCD, the Nation and the International Community'', the paper explains.
Le Phare devotes its headlines to President Joseph Kabila's attitude, ''in the face of a malaise prevailing in his entourage''. According to this paper, in spite of the increasing pressures on him, Kabila has remained death to the agitation within his entourage. The malaise mentioned by the paper concerns Ghonda's (Minister of Foreign Affairs) dossier whose ''head is wanted for making a statement that shocked Yoweri Museveni'' , ''frustrations following the government shake-up'', and ''the rumours on the existence of political and financial mafia consisting in misappropriating Government''.
Referring to the elections, L'Avenir announces that France has disbursed 5 million euros for the organisation of the elections in DRC. 'The amount has been earmarked for the running of the Independent Electoral Commission', the paper further says, applauding the contribution made by France. It urges the other partners and the Congolese themselves to follow suit ''so that the process would smoothly proceed forward''. In the meantime, the paper considers that 'eastern DRC must be well guarded for a safe transition'.
With regard to the situation in eastern DRC, La Référence Plus headlines: General Nkunda spreads terror in North Kivu. The paper adds that Minova district, situated 50 km or so in the town of Goma, ''thrown into a panic by the troops of the RCD dissident General Laurent Nkundabatware'. The paper refers to an 'indescribable fear and weariness' visibly read on the faces of the district residents caused by 'Laurent Nkunda and his 4000 troops recently driven out of Bukavu by General Mbuja Mabe'. It mentions the rapes suffered by women and young girls in Minova. The paper also reports that Laurent Nkunda obliges the population to pay one dollar a month per adult person, 5 dollars out of the business activities and 20 dollars out of the farming and mining activities.
More alarming, Le Potentiel calls attention on the risks of unrest in eastern DRC. The paper recalls that the ultimatum, which the commander of the 10th military region addressed at the beginning of the week to the chief mutineer withdrawn to Minova, expires by Friday 16 July. 'General Félix Mbuza Mabe's message orders Laurent Nkunda to withdraw from Minova district', the paper says, noting that the sword of Damocles is as of now hanging on Nkunda's head. General Mbuza Mabe's ultimatum expiring today, the paper wonders what will happen this weekend. If the regular army attacks Nkunda's positions, there will be 'total war in the east', the paper says, calling on the Government to urgently determine the insurgents' fate. This is also requested by the International Committee to Accompany the Transition (ICST) in a declaration issued on Thursday with regard to the evolution of the Transition's process in DRC, the paper indicates.
In this regard, Le Palmarès published in full ICST communiqué in which the International Committee declares being ''seriously concerned by the deterioration of the security situation in eastern DRC, and the withdrawal of some signatory members to the All-inclusive Agreement from the Transitional process', alluding to the decision by eight MPs of the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) to suspend their participation in the National Assembly. La Tempête des Tropiques, in turn, echoes Monuc's reaction indicating that ''the empty seat policy is not productive'' and quotes the Mission's Spokesman as declaring that ''those who pulled out of the transition risks marginalizing themselves''.
Following a ''pernicious climate'' prevailing within RCD, ''the key actors of the reformist wing intervened yesterday to claim the resignation of their national leader, Azarias Ruberwa'', Forum des As indicates, adding that ''the key actors regrouped in the reformist wing declared that they were acting for the supreme interest of the RCD, the Nation and the International Community'', the paper explains.
Le Phare devotes its headlines to President Joseph Kabila's attitude, ''in the face of a malaise prevailing in his entourage''. According to this paper, in spite of the increasing pressures on him, Kabila has remained death to the agitation within his entourage. The malaise mentioned by the paper concerns Ghonda's (Minister of Foreign Affairs) dossier whose ''head is wanted for making a statement that shocked Yoweri Museveni'' , ''frustrations following the government shake-up'', and ''the rumours on the existence of political and financial mafia consisting in misappropriating Government''.
