Photo: John Bompengo/Radio Okapi

Kinshasa, 12 September 2011 – Radio Okapi, the UN-managed radio station in the Democratic Republic of Congo, presented a charter laying down its communication policy during the country's general elections on Saturday, 10 September, to political stakeholders and the media.

The document outlines the conduct that the Radio will observe throughout this political process, which will conclude in 2013. The electoral charter involves, inter alia, the Radio's obligations in information handling vis-à-vis its audience, its guiding principles in media coverage during the elections, the concept of professional journalism, and the standards governing its various productions as well as measures to mitigate conflicts of interest between the Radio and its staff.

At the launching ceremony, the Director of the Public Information Division for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), George Ola-Davies, explained that Radio Okapi will be observing "strict neutrality" in the treatment of information during the electoral period. "This charter is there as a reminder that Radio Okapi journalists will be vigilant observers in the elections," he told the many political party leaders and media professionals at the ceremony.

As it stands, major steps have already been taken towards the organization of the country's elections, including the voters' registration, which concluded on 17 July; the publication by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of a Code of Conduct for political parties on 8 September; and the closure on Sunday, 11 September of the registration of candidates for the presidential and legislative elections. Meanwhile, the opening date for the electoral campaign is expected to start on 28 October.

Penangnini Toure/MONUSCO