"The year 2005 with its waves of turbulence is definitely over. 2006 turns the new page of a country anxiously awaiting to recover its full rights and prerogatives," writes LE POTENTIEL on its front page. "...Congolese people are now faced with major political stakes and challenges," says the paper, referring to UDPS reintegration to the transition process as "an indication that all the Congolese people are resolved to achieve their national reunification." In his address to the nation, UDPS leader, Etienne Tshisekedi preconditions his reintegration: "For credible and fair elections, UDPS must participate in the organisation of the elections at every stage."

Against this background, UDPS writes to CIAT and CEI, reports LE POTENTIEL, indicating, the party "vows to participate in the upcoming polls; recalls CIAT commitments to push for the political and administrative settlement of '"multiple-UDPS acronym" issue and the opening of registration offices for its members who did not register." UDPS also asks to be integrated into the CEI (Independent Electoral Commission) and the High Media Authority (HAM). The paper predicts positive answers to both letters.

UDPS members to be shortly registered, says LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, indicating, "This issue will be definitely sorted out with the help of the DRC's donors who insist on having Etienne Tshisekedi back to the electoral process; a different registration mechanism might be envisaged to this end, if necessary."

LA REFERENCE PLUS reports the case of other people who "did not register for living in far remote areas following waves of violence." This led CEI to proceeds with idenfication and registration operations in Equateur, writes the paper on its front page. "Every cloud having a silver lining, this will help the CEI to address all the thorny issues along with UDPS reintegration to the electoral process."

Relief and jubilation across DRC, following Etienne Tshisekedi's reintegration, reports LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES. Huge crowds were seen in the pubs across Kinshasa, marking the event and the same jubilation was noticed in several districts such as Butembo, Goma, Uvira, Mbuji-Mayi, Tshikapa and Kikwit, underscores LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES.

The event, though hailed by both the national and international communities, "did not make everybody happy," says LE POTENTIEL. Both Kasaï provinces "applauded UDPS decision to participate in the run-up to the presidential elections." Not everybody celebrated the event. Some of the "no" supporters in the December referendum, are just surprised and have to "review their electoral strategies based on UDPS intransigence." The "yes" supporters who also based their strategies on Thisekedi's non-participation in the run-up to presidential elections must do the same, writes LE POTENTIEL. "There will be lots of alliances," highlights the paper. UDPS must as well rethink its political strategy, and "consider entering alliances to avoid standing "alone against everybody," says the paper. However, everything is contingent upon CIAT and CEI's "responses," concludes the paper.

"Contrary to President Kabila's speech, Thisekedi's message rejoiced thousands desperate Congolese," says LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES. Under the headlines, J. Kabila-Tshisekedi: Secret war through year-end speeches, LE PALMARES comments on "both men and styles: Having a famous legendary restraint in his statement, Joseph Kabila did not make any assessment of Government's activities for fear of lapsing into demagogy. Etienne Tshisekedi, for his part, (...) was rather straightforward: "DRC is sick, very sick indeed. It therefore needs a curative therapy to get it back on track." Comparing both candidates, the paper writes: UDPS leader is 73, "in a country where the living expectation has gone down to 45," while President Kabila is 34, "in a country where the majority of the population is young;" Tshisekedi graduated from law university in 1965 and Joseph Kabila is just a "brilliant self-made man." President Kabila has "a practical approach of the management of the country with one disadvantage, the social front!;" Mr. Tshisekedi is a former minister of late President Mobutu, who has "an idealistic and populist approach of the management of the country." Best opponents are not always best leaders, says the papers, giving some examples: with
Aristide,

Brazzaville
with
Lissouba,
with Walesa. "However, Tshisekedi's supporters unanimously claim that their leader is just an exception," writes the paper.

The paper further reports: Contrary to Kabila, Tshisekedi is not familiar with military affairs. He is married to Marthe, a great lady, for over 40 years, (...) while President Kabila's age "exposes him to lots of temptations; however, he has a priest-like discretion" and "the first lady is not officially known yet." With respect to political experience, Tshisekedi is "an old dinosaur of the DRC political scene" since 1960 and is specialised in political strategies, and able to "turn failures to victories;" Kabila's rule "has defied all prognostics" since he took over from his late father, Laurent Désiré Kabila. UDPS leader's vision is opposed to "the international community's (...) which does not appreciate extra nationalists at the head of rich countries like the DRC. As evidence, no NATO member country supports his candidacy," writes LE PALMARES. "Joseph Kabila is portrayed as a model of African leadership for having accepted power-share with ex-rebels (...and) he has and supports." The paper concludes: both political key figures leads two big political parties in DRC.