UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
5 Mar
2009
Press Review
Today's local papers in Kinshasa devote their headlines to the recent developments in Bukavu.
LE POTENTIEL indicates that confusion persists in Bukavu. The paper mentions contradictory news on a ''real or supposed'' withdrawal of the dissident troops under General Laurent Nkunda of the South Kivu provincial capital. ''At the same time, some sources refer to the firing heard in the town'', reports the paper. It further announces that Laurent Nkunda, the chief dissident and General Sumaïla Iliya, the MONUC troops commander, met near Bukavu on Monday. Both men discussed the modalities on the verification of the withdrawal of General Nkunda's troops from the town of Bukavu, the paper adds. ''MONUC is due to dispatch military observers on the ground today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday) to confirm that our troops have well and truly withdrawn'', declared Laurent Nkunda quoted by AFP and echoed by LE POTENTIEL.
Bukavu: FAC's assault only just avoided yesterday, LE PALMARES announces adding that ''General Mbuza Mabe has been reinforced with fresh troops and equipment with a view to teach a good lesson to Mutebutsi''. However, the paper further says, ''when he (General Mbuza Mabe) was about to launch the attack, positioned a few meters away from the town, MONUC intervened to prevent him from doing so quoting a false pretext''.
L'OBSERVATEUR in turn, feels that anything can now happen in Bukavu. The paper notes that an apparent calm has returned in the town since Monday 7 June 2004. It however indicates that the spectre of war is still hanging over the town. The paper cites as proof the positioning of different troops. It indicates that ''General Félix Mbuza Mabe's troops are continuing to move towards Bukavu from Walungu and they are said to be currently in the hills hanging over Bagira district'MONUC and Mutebutsi's troops erected roadblocks at Banque centrale du Congo'Rwandan insurgents and troops remain positioned at RTNC, Ruzizi dam, Alfajiri college and some tall buildings''.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES refers to yesterday's event in Bukavu as a real turn. The paper indicates that Laurent Nkunda whose troops gained control of the town of Bukavu Wednesday, unilaterally decided to stop his rebellion. Quoting MONUC's chief of staff, the paper indicates that ''General Nkunda acknowledges being misled, for after verification, he says that there was no genocide of the Banyamulenge in Bukavu as he earlier believed. He therefore unconditionally decided to lay down arms and return to Goma''. The paper further says that General Nkunda has given up his claims that the government should name a new governor and another commander for the 10th military region.
LE PALMARES happens to know the fate of General Nkunda and colonel Mutebutsi. On the basis of the statement of the Minister of Defence to Parliament yesterday, the paper indicates that ''the Government in general and the Minister of Defence in particular, consider that Nkunda, Mutebutsi and their gangs are insurgents and should answer for their acts''. Therefore, the paper indicates, the Minister of Defence, Jean-Pierre Ondekane, demands that Nkunda and Mutebutsi be transferred to the relevant military jurisdictions.
Bukavu crisis mobilises the international community, LE PHARE says. The paper quotes, as an example, the visit of the Belgian Vice-premier Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louis Michel, who is ''on a peace mission'' to the DRC and the sub-region. '' When Belgian diplomacy is active on the ground, the French authorities in turn are making several contacts with their partners regarding the situation in the DRC'', the paper reports, highlighting that Quai d'Orsay's objective is to ensure that the DRC's territorial sovereignty and integrity are respected.
Louis Michel was allegedly guarded about the possibility of a second ARTEMIS operation, indicating that ''this can work only if a number of preconditions could be met''. He insisted on the need ''to calmly study this concept, to work it out and further mobilise all the European countries''. Louis Michel also feels that at the current stage, ''nothing can be achieved without MONUC's coordination''.
Under Louis Michel's mediation, a quadripartite meeting is scheduled in Kampala today, LA REFERENCE PLUS says. According to this paper, ''besides the Belgian statesman, the DRC will be represented by Vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba while Rwanda and Uganda will be represented by their respective presidents, Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni''. In Kampala, Louis Michel ''will attempt to stop the war in Bukavu staged by the dissidents General Nkunda and colonel Jules Mutebutsi, backed by the Rwandan regular army''.
The meeting is to be held at a time when ''Kagame accuses Kabila of threatening Rwanda'', L'AVENIR indicates. The paper alludes to a communiqué in which ''the Rwandan Government declares itself concerned about the international community and the DRC's accusations charging it of undermining the peace process in DRC''. The paper feels that the Congolese people's reaction surprised Kagame indicating ''he panicked and showed external signs of a bad scare''.
Bukavu: FAC's assault only just avoided yesterday, LE PALMARES announces adding that ''General Mbuza Mabe has been reinforced with fresh troops and equipment with a view to teach a good lesson to Mutebutsi''. However, the paper further says, ''when he (General Mbuza Mabe) was about to launch the attack, positioned a few meters away from the town, MONUC intervened to prevent him from doing so quoting a false pretext''.
L'OBSERVATEUR in turn, feels that anything can now happen in Bukavu. The paper notes that an apparent calm has returned in the town since Monday 7 June 2004. It however indicates that the spectre of war is still hanging over the town. The paper cites as proof the positioning of different troops. It indicates that ''General Félix Mbuza Mabe's troops are continuing to move towards Bukavu from Walungu and they are said to be currently in the hills hanging over Bagira district'MONUC and Mutebutsi's troops erected roadblocks at Banque centrale du Congo'Rwandan insurgents and troops remain positioned at RTNC, Ruzizi dam, Alfajiri college and some tall buildings''.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES refers to yesterday's event in Bukavu as a real turn. The paper indicates that Laurent Nkunda whose troops gained control of the town of Bukavu Wednesday, unilaterally decided to stop his rebellion. Quoting MONUC's chief of staff, the paper indicates that ''General Nkunda acknowledges being misled, for after verification, he says that there was no genocide of the Banyamulenge in Bukavu as he earlier believed. He therefore unconditionally decided to lay down arms and return to Goma''. The paper further says that General Nkunda has given up his claims that the government should name a new governor and another commander for the 10th military region.
LE PALMARES happens to know the fate of General Nkunda and colonel Mutebutsi. On the basis of the statement of the Minister of Defence to Parliament yesterday, the paper indicates that ''the Government in general and the Minister of Defence in particular, consider that Nkunda, Mutebutsi and their gangs are insurgents and should answer for their acts''. Therefore, the paper indicates, the Minister of Defence, Jean-Pierre Ondekane, demands that Nkunda and Mutebutsi be transferred to the relevant military jurisdictions.
Bukavu crisis mobilises the international community, LE PHARE says. The paper quotes, as an example, the visit of the Belgian Vice-premier Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louis Michel, who is ''on a peace mission'' to the DRC and the sub-region. '' When Belgian diplomacy is active on the ground, the French authorities in turn are making several contacts with their partners regarding the situation in the DRC'', the paper reports, highlighting that Quai d'Orsay's objective is to ensure that the DRC's territorial sovereignty and integrity are respected.
Louis Michel was allegedly guarded about the possibility of a second ARTEMIS operation, indicating that ''this can work only if a number of preconditions could be met''. He insisted on the need ''to calmly study this concept, to work it out and further mobilise all the European countries''. Louis Michel also feels that at the current stage, ''nothing can be achieved without MONUC's coordination''.
Under Louis Michel's mediation, a quadripartite meeting is scheduled in Kampala today, LA REFERENCE PLUS says. According to this paper, ''besides the Belgian statesman, the DRC will be represented by Vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba while Rwanda and Uganda will be represented by their respective presidents, Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni''. In Kampala, Louis Michel ''will attempt to stop the war in Bukavu staged by the dissidents General Nkunda and colonel Jules Mutebutsi, backed by the Rwandan regular army''.
The meeting is to be held at a time when ''Kagame accuses Kabila of threatening Rwanda'', L'AVENIR indicates. The paper alludes to a communiqué in which ''the Rwandan Government declares itself concerned about the international community and the DRC's accusations charging it of undermining the peace process in DRC''. The paper feels that the Congolese people's reaction surprised Kagame indicating ''he panicked and showed external signs of a bad scare''.
