Photo: MONUSCO

Kisangani, 4 October 2011 - A two-day symposium to sensitize political parties and stakeholders on the need for peaceful elections in Province Orientale was organized by the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), in cooperation with the provincial office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The symposium, which opened on 4 September in the provincial capital Kisangani, brought together 66 participants who exchanged views on perceived challenges in the upcoming elections in this province, which is the country's largest with an area of 503,000 sq km and a population estimated to be well over five million.

While explaining the objectives of this meeting, both the Deputy Director of the Political Affairs Division of MONUSCO, Atsain Achi, and the Mission's Head of Office in Kisangani, Helder de Barros, made it clear that the forum "is essentially about informing political party leaders, civil society actors, journalists, security forces, etc., about their missions, rights and duties, and also about the code of conduct that all parties should abide by throughout the electoral process."

During this forum, a number of presentations were made, especially on the legislation and regulations governing the electoral process; the procedures governing the settlement of electoral disputes; civil liberties and the role of political actors during the electoral period; and the contribution of civil society and the media to free, transparent and democratic elections.

Several provincial authorities including the governor of Province Orientale attended the symposium.

Codjo Houegniglo/ MONUSCO