Photo: Alberto Mbuwa/ MONUSCO

Mbandaka, 6 September 2011 – A two-day training workshop for leaders of political parties and civil society organizations, as well as women leaders and media professionals took place in Equateur Province on 6 September 2011.

Organized by the Political Division of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), and chaired by the Acting Governor a of Equateur province, Dr. Bruno Bindamba, this workshop falls within the scope of the upcoming general elections in the DRC.

While addressing the participants at the workshop, Dr. Bindamba lauded the initiative as "a meaningful testimony to the tireless efforts of the UN Mission to lend support to the Congolese electoral process."

Three major themes were addressed on the first day of the training, namely Duties and Responsibilities of Political Stakeholders in Managing a Peaceful Political Process; Moral Integrity as a Prerequisite for Peaceful Elections and the Role of Civil Society Organizations and the Media in a Peaceful Electoral Process.

The debates that ensued brought into light a number of areas to be improved. For example, the media were singled out as lacking professionalism and being submissive to political interest groups, while the latter, especially political candidates were accused of cultivating personality cult and using elements of the security forces for their own ends. Civil society organizations in Equateur province were criticized for their lack of dynamism, a factor which can adversely affect the electoral process in the province.

Jean-Tobie Okala/ MONUSCO