In the run up to November’s presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN Security Council late Friday in New York expressed concern at recent arrests and detention of members of opposition parties and of the civil society.
In a UN statement, the Security Council stressed the importance of a “peaceful and credible electoral cycle, in accordance with the constitution, for stability, development, and consolidation of constitutional democracy”.
The Council members also called for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, which they said will pave the way for and ensuring an environment conducive to free, fair, peaceful, credible, inclusive, transparent and timely elections in the DRC, in accordance with the constitution, while respecting the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.
They also expressed their deep concern at increased restrictions of the political space in the country, particularly in relation to arrests and detention of members of the opposition and of the civil society.
They urged the DRC government as well as all relevant parties to respect human rights and to refrain from violence and provocation.
The Council members expressed support for the decision of the African Union to undertake consultations on this dialogue and the recent appointment of Edem Kodjo, former Togo’s Prime Minister, as facilitator for the dialogue.
They also welcomed the efforts of the UN Special Representative for the DRC, Maman Sambo Sidikou, and the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region, Said Djinnit, to facilitate this dialogue among political stakeholders.
They also urged all national stakeholders to extend full cooperation to the international facilitation appointed by the African Union, and encouraged all stakeholders to participate in the dialogue.
The Council members further acknowledged the ongoing efforts by the Congolese authorities and especially by the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), with the support of various partners to revise the voters’ register, and emphasized the need for the Congolese authorities to take all necessary steps to proceed without delay, and called on international partners to provide the necessary support.
