UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
5 Mar
2009
Press Review
Today's local press provides a detailed account of the Abuja summit between presidents Joseph Kabila of the DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda. The papers also comment on the fate of Colonel Jules Mutebutsi and the military situation in eastern DRC.
The headlines in LE PHARE read: Kabila, a risky pledge with Kagame. The paper does not hide its pessimism over the outcome of the summit meeting held on 25 June 2004 in Abuja between presidents Kagame and Kabila. The paper says that «both presidents decided to revive the provisions of the Pretoria Agreement which became obsolete ('). They also decided to put in place a joint verification mechanism to monitor the disarmament of Rwandan Hutu extremists ». This is clear, the paper says, «since no one has, to date, conducted such a verification, and it was a prerequisite that the Interahamwe whose tracking in the bush has been very difficult, should first be disarmed». The paper refers to presidents Kabila and Kagame's willingness to restore confidence among the two of them to avert the new war. « That is just a declaration of faith, considering that, the past, no progress has ever been made in the Kivus». The paper wonders whether the two presidents who pledged to implement the Pretoria Agreement have in such a short time identified the reasons why it was never implemented or whether this umpteenth meeting will be « conclusive».
In another article entitled Kigali is protecting its business, but what about the DRC's requirements' LE PHARE is of the opinion that Rwanda has once more flagged the issue of Interahamwe and ex-FAR « which it brings up at every chance to justify the presence of Rwandan regular troops in the DRC territory». For the paper, this is a «coherent, structured and well-documented requirement in light of the presence of genocidaires on the DRC and the implication of the Congolese authorities», while « the DRC has as usual failed to come up with coherent requirements in front of Rwanda». The paper therefore finds it « logical» that Kagame's grievances « are always taken seriously and turned to resolutions in an international agreement binding Kinshasa officials who cry at the slightest thing to ward off their ill fortune ». For the paper, the Interahamwe issue is so complex and sensitive that it should be addressed by the United Nations rather than the DRC.
« The DRC has once again been fooled», LE PALMARES writes on its front page: This is how Kagame trapped J. Kabila in Abuja. The paper thinks that Paul Kagame played 'nice' in Abuja following the recent invasion of the DRC by Rwandan troops, which was not appreciated by the International Community, and indicates that the deployment of 10,000 FARDC troops gives sleepless nights « to the bloodthirsty of Kigali. ». Nothing in return was proposed to the DRC, except « the routine verification of Rwandan presence in the DRC », the paper deplores, wondering « why Joseph Kabila did not claim unambiguously the extradition of Mutebutsi' » He would have then tested Mr. Paul Kagame and/or Rwanda's « good willingness». A waste of time, writes L'AVENIR in its editorial. The Congolese people are disappointed that « Mutebutsi's case has officially remained unsolved».
Mutebutsi and his troops in trouble, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES announces on its front page. The paper explains that Colonel Mutebutsi and his troops fled to Rwanda where they have not been given the status of refugees by UNHCR. The paper quotes some observers as declaring, « Kigali should turn Mutebutsi and his troops over to face the international court or the Congolese government for the sake of peace in the Great Lakes region».
L'OBSERVATEUR, in turn, refers to the clashes between the army and the pro-Rwandan militiamen in Masisi adding that last Monday's fighting between « the Maï-Maï patriots and an unidentified armed group», at Ishasha, 150 km North of Goma allegedly forced all the villagers to flee into the bush. The daily further accuses the pro-Rwandan militiamen « under Serufuli and some North Kivu officials» of invading Nyabiondo and some districts in Masisi where they killed, raped and dove out the local population, « in order for the Banyarwanda population to settle in». It further highlighted that the regular army has deployed military reinforcements to « recover the districts from the pro-Rwandan militiamen» and « the situation was under control of the regular forces».
In another development, the headlines in LE POTENTIEL read: Three of president Kabila's initiatives deadlocked alluding to the nine questions put by the president to the parties to the Inter Congolese Dialogue in Sun City. President Kabila asked them, among other things: « Shall we keep on with the 1+4 scheme', shall we review the Constitution; if yes, on which aspect' How does everyone regard the functioning of the institutions' ». Responses to the questions were expected on 12 June 2004. The paper mentions the major obstacles faced by the procedure set by the president, notably the refusal by Antoine Gizenga, leader of PALU and Etienne Tshisekedi, leader of UDPS, the two key figures of the unarmed Political Opposition, to confer with Joseph Kabila, lack of financial means faced by the Parliament's investigative commission to fight corruption, Major Eric Lenge's coup attempt, the negative consequences of the students and population's demonstrations, the much-awaited cabinet reshuffle'All this has somewhat « cooled the president's enthusiasm», the paper notes, indicating that the Independence Day Address on 30 June 2004, « is highly expected by the Congolese people and the International Community».
DRC freed from satanic pacts, headlines LA REFERENCE PLUS, which comments on the closing worship service of the national conference for reconciliation and national revival by the League for the Bible's reading, churches revival, etc. For six days, the elite, the population in general and foreign partners realized that they had limited resources to resolve the Congo's problems. « God is the only recourse for He is the creator of the universe, the master of the future», the paper writes. Several personalities from Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, the USA, India and Jamaica, as well as transition government officials such as Vice-President Azarias Ruberwa, the Minister of Interior, Théophile Mbemba, members of Parliament and transitional Institutions attended the closing ceremony.
In another article entitled Kigali is protecting its business, but what about the DRC's requirements' LE PHARE is of the opinion that Rwanda has once more flagged the issue of Interahamwe and ex-FAR « which it brings up at every chance to justify the presence of Rwandan regular troops in the DRC territory». For the paper, this is a «coherent, structured and well-documented requirement in light of the presence of genocidaires on the DRC and the implication of the Congolese authorities», while « the DRC has as usual failed to come up with coherent requirements in front of Rwanda». The paper therefore finds it « logical» that Kagame's grievances « are always taken seriously and turned to resolutions in an international agreement binding Kinshasa officials who cry at the slightest thing to ward off their ill fortune ». For the paper, the Interahamwe issue is so complex and sensitive that it should be addressed by the United Nations rather than the DRC.
« The DRC has once again been fooled», LE PALMARES writes on its front page: This is how Kagame trapped J. Kabila in Abuja. The paper thinks that Paul Kagame played 'nice' in Abuja following the recent invasion of the DRC by Rwandan troops, which was not appreciated by the International Community, and indicates that the deployment of 10,000 FARDC troops gives sleepless nights « to the bloodthirsty of Kigali. ». Nothing in return was proposed to the DRC, except « the routine verification of Rwandan presence in the DRC », the paper deplores, wondering « why Joseph Kabila did not claim unambiguously the extradition of Mutebutsi' » He would have then tested Mr. Paul Kagame and/or Rwanda's « good willingness». A waste of time, writes L'AVENIR in its editorial. The Congolese people are disappointed that « Mutebutsi's case has officially remained unsolved».
Mutebutsi and his troops in trouble, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES announces on its front page. The paper explains that Colonel Mutebutsi and his troops fled to Rwanda where they have not been given the status of refugees by UNHCR. The paper quotes some observers as declaring, « Kigali should turn Mutebutsi and his troops over to face the international court or the Congolese government for the sake of peace in the Great Lakes region».
L'OBSERVATEUR, in turn, refers to the clashes between the army and the pro-Rwandan militiamen in Masisi adding that last Monday's fighting between « the Maï-Maï patriots and an unidentified armed group», at Ishasha, 150 km North of Goma allegedly forced all the villagers to flee into the bush. The daily further accuses the pro-Rwandan militiamen « under Serufuli and some North Kivu officials» of invading Nyabiondo and some districts in Masisi where they killed, raped and dove out the local population, « in order for the Banyarwanda population to settle in». It further highlighted that the regular army has deployed military reinforcements to « recover the districts from the pro-Rwandan militiamen» and « the situation was under control of the regular forces».
In another development, the headlines in LE POTENTIEL read: Three of president Kabila's initiatives deadlocked alluding to the nine questions put by the president to the parties to the Inter Congolese Dialogue in Sun City. President Kabila asked them, among other things: « Shall we keep on with the 1+4 scheme', shall we review the Constitution; if yes, on which aspect' How does everyone regard the functioning of the institutions' ». Responses to the questions were expected on 12 June 2004. The paper mentions the major obstacles faced by the procedure set by the president, notably the refusal by Antoine Gizenga, leader of PALU and Etienne Tshisekedi, leader of UDPS, the two key figures of the unarmed Political Opposition, to confer with Joseph Kabila, lack of financial means faced by the Parliament's investigative commission to fight corruption, Major Eric Lenge's coup attempt, the negative consequences of the students and population's demonstrations, the much-awaited cabinet reshuffle'All this has somewhat « cooled the president's enthusiasm», the paper notes, indicating that the Independence Day Address on 30 June 2004, « is highly expected by the Congolese people and the International Community».
DRC freed from satanic pacts, headlines LA REFERENCE PLUS, which comments on the closing worship service of the national conference for reconciliation and national revival by the League for the Bible's reading, churches revival, etc. For six days, the elite, the population in general and foreign partners realized that they had limited resources to resolve the Congo's problems. « God is the only recourse for He is the creator of the universe, the master of the future», the paper writes. Several personalities from Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, the USA, India and Jamaica, as well as transition government officials such as Vice-President Azarias Ruberwa, the Minister of Interior, Théophile Mbemba, members of Parliament and transitional Institutions attended the closing ceremony.
