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DR Congo ruling party, opposition divided over MONUSCO's role in elections

Xinhua, April 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

The ruling party and the opposition in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have clashed on the role that should be played by the UN Mission for Stabilization of Congo (MONUSCO).

Whereas the secretary general of the Movement for Liberation of Congo (MLC, opposition) Eve Bazaiba Masudi urged the UN to reinforce MONUSCO's logistical support to ensure polls are held on time, the spokesman for the Presidential Majority (MP) camp Andre Alain Atundu said elections will not be held on the basis of a UN resolution, but on the basis of technical evaluation of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) and compromise of the Congolese political class.

The two were speaking on Thursday on the UN Radio in Kinshasa, a day after the adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution No. 2277 that renews MONUSCO's mandate by one year and calls for speedy organization of free and fair polls in DR Congo.

Masudi hailed the extension of MONUSCO's mandate, and urged the mission to provide logistical support to the country's electoral process.

"We hope to get logistical support for the elections. MONUSCO should provide aerial support, as it has always done, in distribution of electoral materials," she said.

The MLC secretary general said civilians will pay a heavy price for poorly organized elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On his part, the spokesman for MP camp noted that organization of elections was a Congolese affair and not one for the international community, especially the UN.

"Regardless of the number of resolutions adopted by the Security Council, what will carry the day is CENI's technical view and the options suggested by the Congolese political class," Atundu said.

CENI's timetable which was published in February 2015, indicated presidential and legislative elections would be held in November 2016.

The opposition has accused President Joseph Kabila, in power since 2001, of planing to extend his reign.

On the other hand, Kabila has called for political dialogue to prepare for peaceful and transparent elections. Endit