MONUSCO invites political actors to preserve a peaceful environment and to use legally prescribed channels to resolve disputes

Kinshasa, 14 March 2012: The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) welcomes today's decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the trial of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, found guilty of enlisting and conscripting child soldiers in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 2002 and 2003. The verdict is the first ever issued by the ICC since its establishment in 2002.

This announcement of provisional results follows the publication of a series of partial results within a context marked by complaints concerning the process of compilation of the results which led the CENI to send field missions to a number of locations, notably in the provinces of Kasai Occidental, Kasai Oriental, Katanga, Maniema, North Kivu, Orientale and South Kivu. MONUSCO welcomes the peaceful atmosphere which has been observed throughout the country since the announcement of these results. It encourages all candidates and political actors to use the legally prescribed channels for the resolution of disputes, and to refrain from the use of force or violence.

MONUSCO also encourages the Supreme Court of Justice to examine with due diligence any and all disputes referred to it with a view to contributing to a peaceful political climate and the strengthening of the rule of law.

MONUSCO wishes to remind all parties concerned that it is continuing to monitor closely human rights violations and acts of violence committed, notably, in the context of the elections. It calls on the Congolese authorities to respect human rights obligations, particularly the rights to liberty, to freedom of movement and to freedom of expression as provided by international legal instruments ratified by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Congolese law.
MONUSCO whose mandate under Security Council Resolution 1991 of 28th June 2011 is to provide technical and logistical support to the organization of the elections is continuing to work towards this end and the completion of the process alongside national institutions and political actors.