Press Review of 29 May 2006

The upcoming visit of the UN Security Council to DRC, the latest developments on the 32 mercenaries' story and the refusal by DRC Government to grant accreditation to RFI special envoy are the major topics in today's local papers.

With reference to the UN Security Council's visit to DRC due on 11 June, La Tempête des Tropiques says, "It is a last HOPE meeting aimed at getting everybody on board the electoral process." The paper quotes Jean-Marc de La Sablière as declaring, "The UN Security Council will call for free, all-inclusive, transparent and peaceful elections; It will also call for free and fair access to the media."

Le Phare highlights that this will be the 7th UN Security Council's mission to DRC.

The mercenaries' story is the dominant issue in most papers. L'Observateur says, "Altogether 3 American and 19 South African mercenaries were expulsed and taken to the DRC border on Saturday 27 May while the 10 Nigerian presumed mercenaries were scheduled to be expulsed today." Forum des As reports, "The Mirabilis and Omega firms that employed the expulsed staff are banned from exercising their activities in DRC."

L'Avenir, for its part, says "DRC authorities think they are spared from being tainted by the expulsion of the presumed mercenaries." "Kinshasa insists: the 32 people are mercenaries," the paper writes on its front page, indicating, "American mercenaries had served as body guards for two former US Presidents."

The Government is divided over the mercenary issue. La Référence Plus quotes Vice-president Azarias Ruberwa as declaring, "DRC Government has never actually debated the 32 mercenaries' issue" and criticizing the Government for "dysfunction and lack of seriousness." La Référence Plus echoes Azarias Ruberwa's scepticism about a presidential candidate, Mr. Oscar Kashala's implication in a "plot to take power by force." He refers to the whole matter as "an intimidation" by the Minister of Home Affairs.

"Mr. Oscar Kashala's phone has been tapped and he is personally being shadowed," says Le Phare.

Le Potentiel echoes Vice-President Ruberwa's call for "a small format of political consultations that will pave the road for the country's bright future in round-table talks and spare the country troubled post- elections."

Refusal to grant accreditation to Ghislaine Dupont, RFI journalist has given rise to several reactions: "JED's has appealed to President Joseph Kabila to help settle this issue," write Le Potentiel and Le Phare while "FONUS denounces Government's refusal to grant accreditation to Ghislaine Dupont", writes Le Phare.