Press Review of 7th February 2006 [1]

10 Mar 2009

Press Review of 7th February 2006

PPRD (President Kabila's political party)'s congress is the top news in today's local papers.

PPRD (Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie)'s congress that ended yesterday elected, by an overwhelming majority, President Joseph Kabila as their candidate for the upcoming presidential elections, writes Le Potentiel. Delegates to the congress coming from DRC provinces hailed President Kabila's "positive achievements at the head of the country for the past five years (...); DRC pygmies to the congress called on President Kabila to accept the offer as candidate for the presidential elections," says L'Avenir. "Delegates from different parts of the world attending the congress expressed hope to see Joseph Kabila carry through his action for the renaissance of DRC," says L'Avenir, pro-President Kabila's paper.

Joseph Kabila's selection by an overwhelming majority to stand for the "upcoming election is no surprise (...). PPRD congress has only confirmed what was expected," writes Le Potentiel, pro-opposition paper. La Tempête des Tropiques says, "Joseph Kabila's candidacy was decided from Kisangani (...) the congress only endorsed it." La Tempête des tropiques [pro-opposition] quotes Vice-President Yerodia as portraying Etienne Tshisekedi as "the DRC Ayatollah."

Le Potentiel announces UDPS forthcoming congress "to officially announce Etienne Tshisekedi's candidacy for the presidential elections;" The elections look interesting after President Joseph Kabila for PPRD, Vice-Presidents Jean Pierre Bemba for MLC and Azarias Ruberwa for RCD have officially been designated by their respective parties for the presidential elections.

"The silence surrounding UDPS claim for reopening of the registration offices to allow its members and the Congolese living abroad to register risks overshadowing the electoral process," says Le Phare. It is high time for the sponsors of the DRC peace process, "including Denis Sassou N'guesso, to examine the claim and have everybody included to avoid jeopardizing the future of the 3rd Republic," warns Le Phare, a pro-opposition paper.

In Rutshuru, Eastern DRC, "1463 insurgents, approximately three battalions, surrendered to loyalist troops," informs Le Phare. Having surrendered, the insurgents "disassociated themselves definitely from Laurent Nkunda, the dissident General," says Le Palmarès. La Tempête des Tropiques says, the insurgents realised that they were "misled."

Press Reviews 2006 [2]