New York, 23 March 2016 – The United Nations Security Council, under the presidency of Angola, met yesterday Wednesday in New York to discuss the Report of the United Nations Secretary -General on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  The report was presented by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC, Mr. Maman Sidikou, in the presence of the DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Raymond Tshibanda N'Tungamulongo.

Mr. Maman Sidikou essentially said that “the electoral process in the DRC is at an impasse; significant obstacles should be overcome for these elections to take place; a key step towards holding credible elections remains the revision of the voters’ registry, and the support of MONUSCO will be necessary”. However, he added," to mitigate the risks associated with the provision of such assistance, a political consensus among all actors would be important. "

Also, Maman Sidikou acknowledged the progress made by the DRC government to end the recruitment of children into the armed forces and in the implementation of the national plan to combat sexual violence.

For his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. Raymond Tshibanda, expressed to the Council all the gratitude of the Congolese people and Government for the UN's efforts to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC and to assure peace and stability there. Regarding elections, Mr. Tshibanda said: "My country is committed to the organization of elections that are free and respectful of international standards in terms of inclusiveness, transparency and credibility.” It is equally committed to making surethat these" elections are not marred by incidents of violence, either before, during or after their organization.” 

This why, he said, “Joseph Kabila Kabange, President of the DR Congo, has set the country on the path of political dialogue so that together, political actors from all sides, civil society, religious and traditional authorities, may agree on ways and means of overcoming the challenges on the road towards peaceful elections and establishing a consensus on the ongoing electoral process.

Raymon Tshibanda, in view of the results achieved in particular in the fight against armed groups, and based on the evaluation of the situation by experts within the framework of the strategic dialogue, informed the Security Council of his government’s objective, which is: "the drawdown in the Force for 2016 by half, or approximately ten thousand men."