Press Review of 12 December 2006 [1]

10 Mar 2009

Press Review of 12 December 2006

President Kabila's memo to Government officials is the dominant issue in today's local press.

President Kabila's memo orders Cabinet members, Governors and Deputy Governors to start dispatching the day-to-day business and to refrain from engaging the Government. Under the headline "Ministers and Governors disposing of day-to-day business," L'Observateur says, "the memo is doubtless a strong signal that augurs ill for what is to follow."

In a similar headline, La Référence Plus says, "the memo is likely to assure the Congolese people that wish to know who will be retained by Joseph Kabila for the exciting adventure of the 3rd Republic.

In the same vein, L'Avenir highlights, "the memo is not a warning; it can be likened to a grace period for Government officials to embezzle public funds as in the past."

Under the headlines, "Ministers and Governors to dispatch the day-to-day business," Le Phare argues, "the cake is too small for the AMP (President Kabila's platform); President Kabila has a difficult choice to make in view of the excessive number of candidates vying for the chairs of the National Assembly and the Senate, the positions of premiership, ministers and governors." It is obvious that "many politicians of the presidential majority will be disappointed."

Under the headline, "Fierce battle for Governors' positions," Le Potentiel notes, "high tensions within the political parties' strongholds legitimated by the elections though decisions will be made by the leaders of the key political parties and platforms."

In other news, many papers published Kofi Annan's text entitled, "The Five Lessons learnt during his tenure of office as the UN Secretary-General." For L'Avenir, "The outgoing UN Secretary-General gave a new vision of the UN in the five lessons."

Press Reviews 2006 [2]