Cablegate: Congolese Press Generally Positive About International

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKI #0068 0212001
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 211940Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0050
INFO RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC 0004

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000068

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PGOV PREL HA CG KPAO ECON
SUBJECT: CONGOLESE PRESS GENERALLY POSITIVE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL
RELIEF EFFORTS IN HAITI

REF: STATE 5808

1. Kinshasa local press reporting has focused on reports of the
Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (GDRC) pledge
to contribute $2.5 million dollars in emergency assistance.
Pro-government and independent papers have reacted positively to
this decision, and have argued, despite criticism from some
Congolese opinion-makers, the GDRC should be commended for its
decision. One pro-government editorial from January 20 was
headlined "We are All Haitians," commending the reported GDRC
decision to provide $2.5 million in emergency aid. Other
independent editorials from that same day have also asserted that
it is the duty of all African countries to help Haiti.

2. Congolese bloggers, both based in the DRC and diaspora, have
written generally positive posts concerning the aid efforts, with
the exception of Cedric Kalonji, a former Okapi journalist now
living in France, who wrote a brief article critical of DRC aid to
Haiti while the DRC faced its own development challenges.

3. Other reporting on international relief efforts in Haiti has
been neutral. PAS Kinshasa continues to monitor media reaction to
international relief activities, and will continue to promote U.S.
public messages by transmitting America.gov articles, delivering
podcasts of USG principal remarks to local radio outlets, and
highlighting key USG policy messages on Haiti to press and local
opinion makers.
BROCK

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