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Int'l community wants DR Congo to hold dialogue before month-end

Xinhua, July 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

The support group facilitating political dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on Tuesday recommended the holding of dialogue before the end of July 2016.

"Meeting for the first time in Addis Ababa, on July 4, the support group facilitating political dialogue in DR Congo urges the start of talks before the end of this month," a statement issued by the African Union (AU) in Kinshasa, said.

The support group is comprised of representatives of the AU, European Union, the United Nations, the International Organization of the Francophonie, Southern African Development Community, the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region and the UN Mission for Stabilization of Congo (MONUSCO).

The AU statement pointed out that Maman Sidikou, the head of MONUSCO, had placed particular emphasis on the advancement of efforts aimed at convening the national dialogue.

"The situation remains precarious and there is need to support the facilitator to kick-start the national dialogue," he said.

On June 29, DR Congo President Joseph Kabila urged Edem Kodjo, the facilitator appointed by AU, to quickly launch the dialogue process.

"Given that this dialogue option is irreversible for us, I urge the African Union facilitator to finalize his consultations to quickly open dialogue," Kabila said in a speech to the nation during celebrations to mark DR Congo's 56th independence anniversary. Endit