Congo UN boss gets a swing in his step

By Arnaud Zajtman
BBC News, Kinshasa

The head of the United Nations mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo has found himself the unlikely subject of a hit song in Kinshasa's vibrant night clubs.

A white wig and moustache are used to imitate Mr Swing

Referring to the 72-year-old William Swing as "Koko Souing" (Grandpa Swing in Lingala) the song has him talking tough to the Congolese electorate.

They have just voted in interim leader Joseph Kabila as president after an historic but tense presidential run-off in October, following years of conflict.

"Me Koko Souing, I want peace and calm in the city of Kinshasa and through out DR Congo - ok right, ok swing!" the track begins, parodying the UN official's American accent.

"When Koko Souing comes on to the stage no-one is allowed to shoot," the lyrics continue.

[The song is] a positive sign that the Congolese sense of humour had overcome years of war UN spokesman Kemal Saiki

The hit song was written by Mira Mikaza, 31, a student at Kinshasa's National Arts Institute.

"We were fearing renewed troubles as we were waiting for the results of the elections. So I wrote the song to urge armed men to remain quiet," he says.

"No-one was better placed than William Swing to tell the fighters to lay down their arms, so I decided to imitate him."

Weak wife

This he does to great affect by wearing a white wig and a fake moustache.

Over the years, Monuc, the French acronym for the UN mission in DR Congo, has earned itself the nickname Monique - because, the joke goes, it is weak and feeble like a woman confronted by so many armed rebels she is unable to crush them.

'Koko Souing' also turns out to be a lively dancer

"Nique" is also French slang for having sex and some say Monique refers to the UN peacekeeper sex scandal that hit the organisation two years ago.

In the song, Monique becomes Koko Souing's wife.

Mr Swing has spent much of his three years as Monuc boss ducking criticism left, right and centre for failing to calm the unruly nation.

He has not responded personally to his new-found hip status, but UN spokesman Kemal Saiki said the song was a "positive sign that the Congolese sense of humour had overcome years of war".

However, the UN-sponsored station Radio Okapi is one of the only stations in DR Congo not to have played the song.

"We have the CD but the green light from above has not come yet," one of its DJs said.

Praise

With 17,500 troops deployed in DR Congo and an annual budget of more than $1bn, Monuc is the UN's largest peacekeeping operation.

However, it was often criticised for failing to bring a real end to DR Congo's troubles.

The UN is now taking tough action against rebels

In June 2004, it almost pulled out after its premises were attacked and dozens of its vehicles burnt during massive anti-UN riots.

These were sparked by the UN's failure to prevent the capture of the eastern town of Bukavu by troops loyal to Laurent Nkunda, a renegade general allegedly supported by Rwanda.

Gen Nkunda has not been brought to heel and has recently renewed his insurgency.

But this time the UN's stance towards him has been more robust, and the Congolese now feel able to praise "Koko Souing" for helping to restore peace in their country.