MONUSCO committed to logistic support for DRC electoral process

Kinshasa, DR Congo (PANA) – The special representative of the UN Secretary General in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mrs Leila Zerrougui, has reaffirmed her organisation's willingness to take logistic support, in accordance with the mandate of the Security Counci, for the 23 December 2018 elections in the country.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday at the offices of the UN Mission for DRC Stabilisation (MONUSCO) in Kinshasa, Mrs Zerrougui said the UN is working on a "very clear" agenda ahead of the elections, in a bid to enable DRC to move forward and devote to national development.

"It is for the interest of the opposition and the ruling party, as well as the government that the elections are free and fair," she said, underlining the need to give guarantees and to apply the same rules to all, particularly about public demonstrations.

"Politics is about negotiations, but the decision of the Congolese people is more important. I am optimistic, I call upon the Congolese to be optimistic too," she said.

About the visit made by the 15 Security Council members on 5-7 October in Kinshasa, the MONUSCO chief said that they noted not only the divergences on issues related to the machines for voting, the electoral roll, the opening of the political arena and particularly the commitment of parties to hold the elections on 23 December.

-0- PANA KON/JSG/MSA/AR 17Oct2018