UN calls for free, fair elections in DR Congo

THE UN Security Council (UNSC) has called for free, fair and credible elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The elections are meant to take place this month but there have been calls for them to be postponed until April 2017.

The President of the Council read a statement that “called on the Congolese authorities to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially the right of peaceful assembly, and to exercise maximum restraint in their response to protests”.

The statement also called on the opposition forces in the country “to show responsibility by ensuring the peaceful character of their demonstrations”.

The council further underlined the need for the government and its national partners to accelerate preparations for the elections without further delays, including by expediting the update of the voter registry.

It further noted it remains concerned over the risk of destabilisation in the DRC and the region as a whole, as illustrated by the violence of September 19 and 20 in the absence of a swift and consensual resolution to the current political crisis. Head of the UN mission in the country Maman Sambo Sidikou informed the council that the mission continued its engagement with the government, political parties and civil society.

Nearly 840000 people have been displaced in North Kivu and more than 700 civilians have been killed since October 2014. ANA