UN Security Council warns against delay of elections in DRC

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday cautiously welcomed the publication of the electoral calendar of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and warned against any delay of the elections.

The council noted the publication of the electoral calendar for the combined presidential, legislative and provincial elections for Dec. 23, 2018, said the Security Council in a press statement.

Now that the date for elections has been set, the council emphasized the critical importance of ensuring that the elections are not postponed further, said the statement.

The Security Council, together with the African Union, has repeatedly called for the timely publication of a credible and consensual electoral calendar as provided for in the Political Agreement of Dec. 31, 2016, said the statement.

The New Year's Eve agreement allowed President Joseph Kabila, who has been in power since 2001, to stay on after his term of office expired, on the condition that elections would be held within 2017. The newly declared date is almost a year into overtime.

The council stressed that a peaceful and credible electoral cycle is crucial for lasting peace and stability in the DRC. It called upon the Congolese authorities and all the relevant institutions to take all the necessary measures without delay to ensure that this new calendar is scrupulously adhered to, including the publication of a credible budget for the combined elections and the adoption of the required electoral legislation.

It also underscored the need to do everything possible to ensure that the planned elections are organized with the requisite conditions of transparency, credibility and inclusivity, and lead to a peaceful transfer of power.

The Security Council reiterated their appeal to all Congolese to work for the preservation of the still fragile gains in the path of peace and stability in the DRC. It called upon all political parties, their supporters, and other political actors to remain calm and refrain from violence of any kind. It warned that it will act against all Congolese actors whose actions and statements impede the peace deal and the timely organization of the elections.

The Security Council welcomed the offer by the African Union and other international organizations, along with the United Nations to establish a coordinated team of experts to support the preparations of the elections. Enditem