UN provides assistance to DR Congo's Electoral Commission

Roger Meece,
Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for DRC

UN provides assistance to DR Congo's Electoral Commission

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for DRC and head of the UN Organisation’s Stabilisation Mission in DRC (MONUSCO), Roger Meece, has said that the mission and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) were providing assistance to the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a report on Wednesday to the UN Security Council President, Meece said that about 30civilian aircraft have been added to the MONUSCO air fleet to help distribute election materials throughout the country in accordance with the INEC logistics plan.

Ensuring maximum security

He stressed that security remained an ongoing concern ahead of the elections and stressed the importance of candidates, political leaders and their followers to act responsibly.

MONUSCO, he said, had trained thousands of police in crowd control and public order tactics.

Election related violence

The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has expressed deep concern over increasing incidents of election-related violence in the country.

The mission also complained of the use of inflammatory language by political leaders that has marred campaigns for presidential and legislative polls later in the month.

MONUSCO in the report said some leaders had used inflammatory language to incite people into violence.

It stressed that such conduct was a violation of the country’s electoral law and international electoral standards.

The report stressed that it was only through a free, fair and democratically held election that Congolese could choose their political leaders.

The country’s election is to take place on November 28. 

REUTERS/Adekusibe/Ekata