UN Security Council in Kinshasa: “Our visit went beyond our expectations”

UN Security Council in Kinshasa: “Our visit went beyond our expectations”. Photo MONUSCO. Michael ALI

9 Oct 2018

UN Security Council in Kinshasa: “Our visit went beyond our expectations”

Jean-Tobie OKALA

 

 

"Our visit went beyond our expectations," said Veronica Cordova Sopria, Deputy Permanent Representative of Bolivia to the UN, at the end of a two-day visit to Kinshasa by a UN Security Council delegation.

 

Kinshasa, October 08, 2018: The UN Security Council delegation that visited Kinshasa in DR Congo from 5 to 7 October 2018, left the Congolese capital late Sunday afternoon. The delegation was led by three co-chairs, namely: Ms. Veronica Cordova Sopria, Deputy Permanent Representative of Bolivia to the United Nations, Ambassador Job Obiang Esono Mbengono, Deputy Permanent Representative of Equatorial Guinea to the United Nations and Ambassador François Delattre, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations.

The visit of the United Nations Security Council in the DRC was "intended to enable us to hear all the actors, to have feedback so as to respond, cooperate and support the People and Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, "said Veronica Cordova Sopria of Bolivia.

 

Indeed, for 48 hours, the Security Council delegation met with the main actors of the Congolese electoral process: Head of State, Prime Minister, President of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), Majority and Political Opposition, civil society, the Bishops' Conference (CENCO), civil society or women candidates in the coming elections.

 

It’s worth mentioning that for Council members, there is need for Congolese political actors to dialogue so as to build a consensus around the voting machine. The delegation also noted that all stakeholders in the electoral process are determined to go to the elections for a first peaceful transition of power in the DRC. This is a historic opportunity to seize, according to Francois Delattre, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations. As for the use of the voting machine that divides the Congolese political actors, the Security Council delegation recommended dialogue between all the stakeholders, in order to "create the widest possible consensus ... and reinforce once more the credibility of the vote.”

 

The Security Council reiterated its commitment to support the electoral process: "We reaffirmed the Security Council's commitment to the Government, the people of the DRC in favor of the holding of inclusive, peaceful and credible elections. We once again supported the electoral process, while insisting on the need for it to be respectful of the Constitution, the New Year's Eve Agreement and the electoral law ", said Veronica Cordova Sopria of Bolivia.

 

The council recommended respect for fundamental freedoms for the expression of different political sensibilities.  "As members of the United Nations Security Council, our role is to promote and maintain peace and stability, hence our presence in the country”, stated Veronica Cordova Sopria.

 

In essence, the UN Security Council delegation welcomed "the progress made thanks to the measures that have been taken, to everyone’s commitment in favor of the holding of peaceful, credible, inclusive, fair and peaceful elections" and added that the purpose of their presence in Kinshasa was to" consolidate these achievements ".

 

It should be noted that the last visit of the Security Council to the DRC took place in November 2016!