UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
Press Review 9 May 2005
Recent developments in the Katanga situation and the Assassination of a Belgian Jesuit Priest in Kinshasa are the two major issues in today's local press.
'Insurrection Attempt: Joseph Kabila arrived in Lubumbashi yesterday,' Le Palmarès headlines and indicates that 'upon arriving, he presided over a security meeting.' The paper discloses: 'the commander of the local military police force, Major Diadiga, including approximately 50 elements of the Special Presidential Security Guard known as GSSP were put under arrest.'
Moreover, Le Palmarès notes, 'The very reasons that drove the putschists to take up arms are not cleared up yet.' However, 'some sources refer to it as an insurrection conducted by some elements of the Presidential Special Security Guards known as GSSP in a bid to gain control of Luano airport and other strategic sites, after taking provincial authorities hostage, with a view to liberating Eddy Kapend and General Yav,' the paper says.
Le Palmarès quotes other sources as indicating that 'it is a secession attempt conducted by South Katanga population with the help of some GSSP elements to protest against their being subjected to Northern Katanga population, which Joseph Kabila is native.'
Under the headline: 'Joseph Kabila in Lubumbashi to inquire about the situation on the ground' L'Observateur writes, ' during his stay in Katanga, the Head of State will definitely meet with the leaders of the civil society to assure them that the transition is proceeding smoothly.' The paper believes 'the talks will focus on the efforts to be made in order to halt weapons traffic, likely to disrupt life in the DRC in general and Katanga in particular.' The paper further informs that 'several arms cache were recently found in Likasi, Lubumbashi and other towns.'
In the same development, La Tempête des Tropiques signals 'continued tension between ethnical groups in Katanga.' The paper also highlights, 'rifts between different ethnical groups are visible; the South accuses the North of dominating others.'
In other developments, Le Potentiel headlines: 'Insecurity in Kinshasa' and reports the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Father René de Haes, Belgian Jesuit, aged 72, indicating that 'the residents of Kinshasa no longer feel secure.' Le Potentiel appeals to the government 'to take tougher actions to secure the population a few months away from the elections.'
Le Phare, in turn, writes, 'insecurity is gaining ground in Kinshasa,' indicating, ' insecurity has gone beyond the threshold of tolerance,' calling on the government 'to take up its responsibilities before the gangs that are organised in decentralised criminal entities, backed by active elements could go any further.'
With respect to the assassination of Father René De Haes in Kindele, L'Observateur reports 'armed gangs freely operated for an hour despite the presence of a police station nearby.'
In other news, Le Phare headlines: 'Angola has turned back the Kitona base,' and indicates 'the Kitona base was liberated by Angolan forces in 1996-1997 and was ever since placed under control of the Angolan Armed Forces known as FAA; the Kitona military base was used by rebel groups to invade Angolan territories.'
Moreover, Le Palmarès notes, 'The very reasons that drove the putschists to take up arms are not cleared up yet.' However, 'some sources refer to it as an insurrection conducted by some elements of the Presidential Special Security Guards known as GSSP in a bid to gain control of Luano airport and other strategic sites, after taking provincial authorities hostage, with a view to liberating Eddy Kapend and General Yav,' the paper says.
Le Palmarès quotes other sources as indicating that 'it is a secession attempt conducted by South Katanga population with the help of some GSSP elements to protest against their being subjected to Northern Katanga population, which Joseph Kabila is native.'
Under the headline: 'Joseph Kabila in Lubumbashi to inquire about the situation on the ground' L'Observateur writes, ' during his stay in Katanga, the Head of State will definitely meet with the leaders of the civil society to assure them that the transition is proceeding smoothly.' The paper believes 'the talks will focus on the efforts to be made in order to halt weapons traffic, likely to disrupt life in the DRC in general and Katanga in particular.' The paper further informs that 'several arms cache were recently found in Likasi, Lubumbashi and other towns.'
In the same development, La Tempête des Tropiques signals 'continued tension between ethnical groups in Katanga.' The paper also highlights, 'rifts between different ethnical groups are visible; the South accuses the North of dominating others.'
In other developments, Le Potentiel headlines: 'Insecurity in Kinshasa' and reports the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Father René de Haes, Belgian Jesuit, aged 72, indicating that 'the residents of Kinshasa no longer feel secure.' Le Potentiel appeals to the government 'to take tougher actions to secure the population a few months away from the elections.'
Le Phare, in turn, writes, 'insecurity is gaining ground in Kinshasa,' indicating, ' insecurity has gone beyond the threshold of tolerance,' calling on the government 'to take up its responsibilities before the gangs that are organised in decentralised criminal entities, backed by active elements could go any further.'
With respect to the assassination of Father René De Haes in Kindele, L'Observateur reports 'armed gangs freely operated for an hour despite the presence of a police station nearby.'
In other news, Le Phare headlines: 'Angola has turned back the Kitona base,' and indicates 'the Kitona base was liberated by Angolan forces in 1996-1997 and was ever since placed under control of the Angolan Armed Forces known as FAA; the Kitona military base was used by rebel groups to invade Angolan territories.'
