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Tuesday, August 28, 2018, 11:28
UN envoy urges dialogue ahead of December elections in Congo
By Xinhua
Tuesday, August 28, 2018, 11:28 By Xinhua

Then United Nations special representative for children and armed conflict, Leila Zerrougui, addresses a press conference in the Yemeni Capital Sanaa on Nov 28, 2012. (MOHAMMED HUWAIS / AFP)

UNITED NATIONS — The special representative and head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Leila Zerrougui, on Monday called for dialogue ahead of the December elections in the country.

Zerrougui told members of the Security Council that "tangible progress has been made" on the ongoing electoral process. Despite this progress, she said, the coming period before the elections on Dec 23 "will be marked by disputes and intense political consultations."

The perceived credibility of the electoral process "remains a key concern" and that this could heighten tensions in the country

Leila Zerrougui, UN envoy in Congo

She encouraged all parties to continue to engage in dialogue.

Zerrougui said that the perceived credibility of the electoral process "remains a key concern" and that this could heighten tensions in the country.

READ MORE: Congo sets presidential election for December 2018

She added that "more meaningful inclusion of women" in the electoral process is a priority, and there should be "no intimidation of political activists and human rights defenders."

Zerrougui called for the lifting of the general ban on public demonstrations and upholding the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, which are crucial to making meaningful progress as the holding of elections draws nearer.

A number of Security Council members said that the UN is willing to offer logistical aid for the coming elections in the DRC, which has rejected all offers of help.

 Anne Gueguen, deputy permanent representative of France to the UN, describing the upcoming elections as a "watershed" and a chance for the DRC to recommit to the path of peace, said it also represents a responsibility on the part of all stakeholders.

The elections must take place "in a climate of trust," she said, calling for the inclusion of women and the release of political prisoners, in accordance with the Saint-Sylvestre agreement.

ALSO READ: Congo's president won't run again in long-delayed election

While welcoming Kinshasa's decision to take charge of financing and logistics for the elections, she nevertheless stressed that MONUSCO stands ready to "offer further technical support" and has the means to do so.

The DRC's ambassador to the UN, Ignace Gata Mavita, defended the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), his country's electoral committee.

"The results achieved so far by CENI should allow us to trust in the institution and allow it to carry out its mission without interference in its work based on considerations which owe more to speculation than reality," he said.

Cheng Lie, a member of the Chinese delegation to the UN, urged the Security Council to support efforts by the African Union and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, as well as regional countries, to play a leading role in mediation, and in helping to enhance engagement among political parties.

The focus should be on the government's ownership of the political process, he said, emphasizing the need to implement the Saint-Sylvestre agreement, and to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the DRC.

China has participated in peacekeeping operations within, and provided humanitarian assistance to the DRC

Cheng Lie, member of the Chinese delegation to the UN

MONUSCO should, within its mandate, strengthen consultations with Kinshasa, he added, emphasizing that his delegation supports African countries in seeking African solutions.

China has participated in peacekeeping operations within, and provided humanitarian assistance to the DRC, he noted.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said that the humanitarian situation "remains worrying" in Uvira territory, South Kivu, one of the 26 provinces of the DRC, where more than 14,000 people have been displaced following an attack by a coalition of the Mai Mai militia on Aug 18. Many people who were displaced were forced to flee again.

In addition, earlier this month, some 3,900 people were reportedly displaced in northern Shabunda and some 3,200 people in the southeast of the province of Maniema, due to clashes between armed groups and the armed forces.

Since June, the UN and its partners have been assisting more than 600,000 people in need, including internally displaced people and refugees.

According to an agreement reached between President Joseph Kabila and the opposition on Dec 31, 2016, elections were to be held by the end of 2017, and Kabila was not to run for a third term or initiate amendments to the constitution.

Citing logistical difficulties that prevented the elections from being held on Nov 5, 2017, CENI published a new electoral calendar for combined presidential, legislative and provincial elections to take place on Dec 23, 2018.

Following the end of the voter registration period, between July 25 and Aug 8, Kabila's party, the Peoples' Party for Reconciliation and Democracy, announced that its candidate for president will be former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, thus putting an end to speculation as to Kabila's intentions. 

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