Kisangani, 20 July 2016 – The chief of MONUSCO-Kisangani office, Ms. Aissetou Sanogo discussed last Wednesday with the Governor of the Tshopo province, Mr. John ILONGO TOKOLE issues relating to the political space and public freedoms restricted by the security services (ANR, Republican Guard, PNC) as well as the threat by the ex-combatants evicted from their site by the Governor, to take up arms again, the lack of women’s representation in the provincial government and MONUSCO-Government action plan on the protection of civilians in the context marked by the electoral process, stabilization, good governance and capacity-building for the democratic institutions.

Responding to the issues of the banning of public protest marches and opposition political parties’ and civil societies’ meetings, the chief of MONUSCO office said this would exacerbate the tensions in the city of Kisangani and would increase the security risks. The Governor, for his part, promised some arrangements to ease the tension. However, he insisted on the strict respect for the rules in place on the request for authorizations to organize protest marches.

The Governor of Tshopo province, Mr. John Ilongo Tokole informed MONUSCO of efforts being made to remove illegal barriers built by the security forces and which may be cause for the local population’s harassment in the Tshopo province.

With regard to the 1712 ex-combatants demobilized in 2003-2005 and driven out of their working site in February 2016, the Governor pledged to turn back the seized properties and to relocate them to a different site.

About the women’s poor representation in the new cabinet, against the constitutional principle of parity, to help the latter to fully participate in the decision-making process, Governor John Ilongo Tokole regretted that the ruling majority did not promote women’s participation in the provincial government, in spite of his insistence. However, he promised pursue this struggle.

With respect to the strategic plan MONUSCO-Government, UN Mission set out 3 priorities stemming from the resolution 2277 which focus on the protection of civilians in the context of the electoral process, stabilization and good governance as well as on the reinforcement of the democratic institutions.  The two parties agreed to organize a special meeting on government priorities for a better synergy.