African peace force urged

As renewed violence between rival ethnic militias flares in the north-eastern Congolese town of Bunia, the regional press fears the breakdown of peace talks.

Papers wonder if the United Nations troops stationed there could do more to resolve the conflict. And they urge the creation of an African peacekeeping force.

An editorial in South Africa's Sunday Times speaks of shattered hopes.

"The optimism following the finalisation of a transitional government in the Democratic Republic of Congo last month may prove to be short-lived," the paper laments.

It says the withdrawal of foreign troops from the DR Congo had been "widely considered to be a key to progress". Yet it has only led to the emergence of "various militias".

Very much at risk at this knife-edge juncture is the shaky peace process and the transitional government taking shape under President Joseph Kabila

The Star

The paper proposes the creation of an African Union peace force backed by the UN.

"The only solution is for the African Union to urge the United Nations to provide financial backing for a multinational peace force, for which the African Union would provide the bulk of military personnel."

Knife's edge

South Africa's independent daily The Star also warns that the peace process and the future of the transitional government - due to be sworn in later this month - are at stake.

"Very much at risk at this knife-edge juncture is the shaky peace process and the transitional government taking shape under President Joseph Kabila."

It fears the renewed fighting between the majority-Lenu and minority-Hema ethnic militias will precipitate the return of both Ugandan and Rwandan troops.

"Then, back to square one - and the bloodshed in which millions have died in the DRC will surely surge once more," the paper despairs.

It urges the UN to take "bold action" to stop the fighting.

The fundamental problem is that the UN is not willing to get its hands dirty. Its peacekeepers are just observers

New Vision

The daily welcomes President Thabo Mbeki's recent plea to the UN to beef up its force in DR Congo, not only to protect civilians but also "to help rescue a flawed, fragile peace".

"The UN must act decisively and urgently in maintaining peace by force if needs be - in Bunia and other parts of the country. It should therefore agree to the Mbeki request on behalf of Africa."

UN under fire

Uganda's state-owned New Vision is scathing in its criticism of the UN.

"The fundamental problem is that the UN is not willing to get its hands dirty and go into combat with the militias now terrorizing Ituri. Its peacekeepers are just observers," the paper complains.

Taking up the theme of an African intervention force, the paper points to the conflict in neighbouring Burundi.

"Sometimes rebellions can only be stabilized by combat-ready soldiers," it says.

In Bunia, there are real fears of an implosion that would set off a long-feared orgy of killings. As the Uganda People's Defence Forces withdraw, they are leaving mayhem in their wake

Monitor

"The crises of Bunia and Burundi demonstrate that the time is now right for Africa to set up its own intervention force for countries that are illegitimately being destabilized."

The paper adds that the UN and the world community can fund this force, "so that they no longer have to worry that their soldiers may get killed on peacekeeping missions in darkest Africa".

Mayhem and farce

An editorial in Uganda's independent Monitor daily accuses both Uganda and Rwanda of exploiting the Congolese crisis to advance their own political ends.

"I has been said that the governments of Uganda and Rwanda exploited the historical tribal animosities in Ituri for selfish purposes and shockingly refused to accept that instead of finding a solution, they were perpetuating the conflict."

The daily accuses Uganda of "frequently switching allegiances" in DR Congo.

"In Bunia, there are real fears of an implosion that would set off a long-feared orgy of killings. As the Uganda People's Defence Forces [UPDF] withdraw from Ituri Province, they are leaving mayhem in their wake," it says.

In DR Congo itself, the French-language pro-government daily L'Avenir wonders if the country would be better off if the UN mission - known by its French acronym Monuc - were gone altogether.

"Logic requires that even if no-one loves the Congolese people, the Monuc should have a purpose... The best way to show antipathy to this country would be, logically, to do nothing. Monuc would be better off gone," the paper says.

"The farce has lasted for far too long," it proclaims.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.