Bukavu, 26 August 2011 – To help with the registration process of candidates for the upcoming presidential and legislative elections, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) transported 4 050 forms to the nine registration and processing centers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the province of Sud-Kivu.

INEC Provincial officials opened these centers on 4 August 2011, in accordance with the electoral calendar. To date, 165 registration forms have been taken by political parties or representatives of candidates for the coming elections.

While on a three-day field trip to Sud-Kivu starting on 23 August, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Fidèle Sarassoro, reiterated MONUSCO's resolve to provide technical and logistical support to the electoral process. Mr. Sarassoro, who is also Resident Representative and Head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), met with the INEC provincial coordinator, Eugene Birenjira, who informed him that, due to the limited number of technical staff, it was difficult to set up computer equipment in the registration and processing centers.

In line with its mandate with regards to the protection of civilians, MONUSCO continues to train Congolese National Police (PNC) and in the month of August alone the United Nations Police (UNPOL) trained more than 150 police officers in Sud-Kivu.

Tahina Andriamamonjitianasoa/ MONUSCO