We begin today’s press review with Congo Nouveau, which accuses ONATRA Director General Martin Lukusa of undermining President Félix Tshisekedi’s vision.
According to the tri-weekly publication, grievances among employees and retirees have been mounting for several months, while tensions have reportedly surfaced within the Railway Department. Several sources within the company say that 15 railway employees were recently suspended.Meanwhile, an investigation by actualité.cd, published by Africanews, looks into the fiasco surrounding the Mukilango project, described as a ghost construction site on the outskirts of Kinshasa.
In early 2024, Turkish company MILVEST launched a project to build 1,000 social housing units in Mukilango village, deep in Mont-Ngafula. More than a year after the scheduled delivery date of September 2024, the investigation found the site largely abandoned.POLITICSFormer Kabila loyalists take center stage in the “National Dialogue.”
Lumanu, Okoto, Mende and others have joined the preparatory team, reports Econews, noting that these three political figures are no strangers to the Congolese political scene. Each, in his own capacity, played a role in the political and institutional machinery of the former regime.
Their return to a political process being led by President Félix Tshisekedi therefore sends a significant political signal.
Meanwhile, Matata Ponyo is calling for mobilization against Tshisekedi. According to the former Prime Minister, quoted by Forum des As, September 15 could prove to be a key date in the political standoff between part of the opposition and President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration.
For his part, Martin Fayulu, quoted by La Référence Plus, questions the decision to negotiate with AFC/M23 in Doha, while the authorities are excluding the movement from the national dialogue announced by President Félix Tshisekedi.
For La Prospérité, by excluding the major actors involved in the conflict from the national forum, the authorities are deliberately choosing to treat the symptoms rather than address the root causes of the crisis.
In an interview with RFI, National Assembly First Vice-President Jean-Claude Tshilumbayi, quoted by Le Journal, said that the Congolese people alone have the power to decide whether the Constitution should be revised. If the people decide to do so, he said, the Constitution will be amended because they have the constitutional power to make that decision.However, according to leaders of the C64, quoted by Actu30.cd, there will be no third term for Félix Tshisekedi, no extension of the current mandate, and no constitutional change.
ECONOMY
Moving on to economic affairs, London will host the DRC–United Kingdom Economic Forum from November 2 to 4.According to Geopolis Hebdo, the forum aims to bring Congolese and British business leaders together directly, with a view to fostering concrete partnerships and investment opportunities.
FUEL SUPPLIES IN KINSHASA
As for fuel supplies in Kinshasa, the Ministry of Hydrocarbons has ruled out the risk of a shortage.
In a statement received Tuesday by Infos27, Minister Acacia Bandubola said national fuel reserves remain more than adequate.
She attributed the temporary difficulties to transportation and logistical constraints, particularly traffic congestion that is slowing down fuel tanker trucks.
A WAVE OF FIRES IN KINSHASA
We now turn to the worrying succession of fires reported across Kinshasa.
Against the backdrop of these repeated disasters, Le Potentiel is calling on provincial and national authorities to strengthen prevention measures, inspections and emergency response capacity to prevent future incidents from turning into major tragedies.
For L’Avenir, the growing number of fires can no longer be regarded as a series of isolated incidents. It is a wake-up call for both national and provincial authorities.
The newspaper argues that the capital urgently needs a properly equipped and decentralized firefighting system capable of responding within minutes, rather than being constrained by the distance emergency crews have to travel.
Kinshasa, with a population of more than 15 million people, notes La Transparence, does not have a network of fire brigades commensurate with the size and population of the capital.
OTHER NEWS
President Félix Tshisekedi has expressed his solidarity with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan following the death of her husband.
According to Le Phare, President Félix Tshisekedi, accompanied by First Lady Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, arrived in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, on Tuesday.By standing alongside President Samia Suluhu Hassan, writes Le Potentiel, the Congolese Head of State sought to demonstrate the solidarity of the Democratic Republic of Congo with the bereaved family.
We conclude with this latest development:Two suspected perpetrators of Sunday evening’s armed robbery at a service station in Lubumbashi have been arrested by security forces, reports La Tempête des Tropiques.
The attack, the newspaper recalls, left two people dead, both police officers assigned to guard the premises.
NOTE : Starting September 14, a new press review will be broadcast, devoted exclusively to parliamentary news.
Tapielutunu@gmail.com
Tel.: +243 891 694 834