UN urges credible, peaceful DR Congo elections

UN urges credible, peaceful DR Congo elections

The UN Security Council has called for ‘credible and peaceful’ elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as clashes mar opposition rallies ahead of the November 28 poll.

Nigeria’s UN ambassador, Joy Ogwu, the current council president said on Monday that members of the Security Council reiterated their call for credible and peaceful elections, for which the government of the DRC bears the primary responsibility. 

Ogwu added that the council recognises the importance of free and constructive political debate, also urging ‘equitable access to media and safety to all candidates’.

Electoral Violence

Some 32 million Congolese are eligible to vote in the November presidential and legislative elections in the mineral-rich African country. Twelve candidates, including incumbent President Joseph Kabila -- who has been head of state since the 2001 assassination of his father Laurent -- have registered to run to be head of state.

But since July, four successive UDPS opposition party rallies have degenerated into fights with the police.

Systemic corruption since independence from Belgium in 1960 and internal conflict since 1997 has reportedly slashed the nation's national output and government earnings, increased external debt and led to the deaths of more than five million from violence, famine and disease.

 AFP/Ehimen/Ekata