Press Review [1]
4 Mar
2009
Press Review
Yesterday's extraordinary cabinet meeting culminated in a power-sharing agreement on the provincial administration, say today's local papers in Kinshasa.
''The DRC Government hardly grabbed a power-sharing agreement on the administration of its 11 provinces among its components and entities late Tuesday'', reports LE PHARE, adding that under the agreement: ''3 governors would be drawn from the ex-government, 2 from the RCD, 1 from the MLC, 1 from the Political Opposition, 1 from the Civil Society and 1 from each entity (RCD-N, RCD/K-ML, Maï-Maï)''. Regarding the vice governors, 5 would be drawn from the ex-government, 5 from the RCD, 4 from the MLC, 3 from the political Opposition, 3 from the Civil Society, and 1 from each entity, says the paper, noting that the nominal power sharing has not been done yet. LE PALMARES believes that after this sharing based on a quota system, the Government will convene another meeting to divide up the provinces among the components and entities.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES devotes its headlines to the issue on the appointment of a national coordinator for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) of the various Congolese armed elements: Mr. Daniel Kawata. The paper recalls that the process concerns 350,000 combatants drawn from the various belligerent groups. ''The hardest work will begin'' when the coordinator assumes office, says the paper, indicating that the problem lies in the financial sector. The World Bank having already mobilised the portion of the funds requested for the operations, the Congolese Government should now disburse its portion, says LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES.
''After the Ituri Brigade, between 3,500 and 4,000 Peacekeepers in the Kivus are being deployed to Eastern DRC'', notes LE PHARE. The paper points out that in the territory where the Brigade is being deployed, i.e., the two Kivus and Maniema, ''the absence of Transitional Government-appointed leaders might encourage a continued climate of mistrust between the belligerents''. The paper further says that the Kivu Brigade will be confronted with the former ANC military (Congolese national army, RCD-Goma's armed wing), the Maï-Maï and other Rwandan combatants of the FDLR.
In the same development, LE PALMARES announces the deployment of the first MONUC convoy to Uvira, with a view to ''enhance MONUC's capacity to fulfil its mandate under chapter 7''. The paper indicates that the Uvira civil society warmly welcomed the MONUC deployment, ''with the hope that its presence will help dig up arms caches''.
LA REFERENCE PLUS raises the recent controversy surrounding MONUC, following severe criticisms made by some actors of the pro-Kabila political groups who did not appreciate MONUC's role in Major Kasongo's affair. The paper echoes a declaration made by one of the Head of State's collaborators, indicating that ''Joseph Kabila, in turn, did not appreciate the negative judgement, based on mere intent, which some of his supporters and other Congolese people made against MONUC; he rather commended MONUC's efforts for the pacification of the DRC in conjunction with the transitional authorities''. According to the Head of State's collaborator, MONUC's contribution is, on the whole, considered by the president to be positive. The collaborator's name is not revealed by the paper.
In Bukavu, a priest re-establishes the facts and denounces MONUC, reports L'AVENIR, alluding to a text published by Father Didier De Failly of the Society of Jesus. In the document, which the paper has published in full, the catholic priest based in Bukavu ''gives his own version of Nabyolwa's affairs as well as the consequences thereof in the face of MONUC's boastful attitude''.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES devotes its headlines to the issue on the appointment of a national coordinator for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) of the various Congolese armed elements: Mr. Daniel Kawata. The paper recalls that the process concerns 350,000 combatants drawn from the various belligerent groups. ''The hardest work will begin'' when the coordinator assumes office, says the paper, indicating that the problem lies in the financial sector. The World Bank having already mobilised the portion of the funds requested for the operations, the Congolese Government should now disburse its portion, says LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES.
''After the Ituri Brigade, between 3,500 and 4,000 Peacekeepers in the Kivus are being deployed to Eastern DRC'', notes LE PHARE. The paper points out that in the territory where the Brigade is being deployed, i.e., the two Kivus and Maniema, ''the absence of Transitional Government-appointed leaders might encourage a continued climate of mistrust between the belligerents''. The paper further says that the Kivu Brigade will be confronted with the former ANC military (Congolese national army, RCD-Goma's armed wing), the Maï-Maï and other Rwandan combatants of the FDLR.
In the same development, LE PALMARES announces the deployment of the first MONUC convoy to Uvira, with a view to ''enhance MONUC's capacity to fulfil its mandate under chapter 7''. The paper indicates that the Uvira civil society warmly welcomed the MONUC deployment, ''with the hope that its presence will help dig up arms caches''.
LA REFERENCE PLUS raises the recent controversy surrounding MONUC, following severe criticisms made by some actors of the pro-Kabila political groups who did not appreciate MONUC's role in Major Kasongo's affair. The paper echoes a declaration made by one of the Head of State's collaborators, indicating that ''Joseph Kabila, in turn, did not appreciate the negative judgement, based on mere intent, which some of his supporters and other Congolese people made against MONUC; he rather commended MONUC's efforts for the pacification of the DRC in conjunction with the transitional authorities''. According to the Head of State's collaborator, MONUC's contribution is, on the whole, considered by the president to be positive. The collaborator's name is not revealed by the paper.
In Bukavu, a priest re-establishes the facts and denounces MONUC, reports L'AVENIR, alluding to a text published by Father Didier De Failly of the Society of Jesus. In the document, which the paper has published in full, the catholic priest based in Bukavu ''gives his own version of Nabyolwa's affairs as well as the consequences thereof in the face of MONUC's boastful attitude''.
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[3]DRC Press Review [3] - [4] [4]Press Review [4]