OHCHR Press Briefing Notes on Democratic Republic of the Congo (06.01.2017)

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“One immediate step the DRC authorities can take regarding this is to lift the restrictions and bans imposed on various media organisations in recent months”.

GENEVA, Switzerland, January 6, 2017 –

Spokespeople for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:

“We welcome the signing of the political accord in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 31 December, which we hope will mark a turning point in the country.

“The agreement, which was reached after the careful mediation of the National Episcopal Conference (CENCO), represents an opportunity to ensure that everyone, including political opponents, journalists and civil society representatives, are able to fully exercise their right to freedoms of association and peaceful assembly, opinion, and expression. One immediate step the DRC authorities can take regarding this is to lift the restrictions and bans imposed on various media organisations in recent months.

“It is important that the Government, opposition parties, civil society and all Congolese citizens work to ensure the implementation of the accord and the creation of an environment conducive to free, fair, and credible elections. We therefore urge President Joseph Kabila to publicly endorse the agreement.

“It is also essential that measures are in place to avoid a repeat of the violence which has erupted in the DRC, notably in Kinshasa in September 2016 when some 54 people were killed, and most recently in December when at least 40 people were killed and hundreds arrested across the country.

“We welcome the fact that the agreement stipulates that emblematic cases of political prisoners will be examined by a commission of high-ranking judges (commission des hauts magistrats). Such measures need to be extended to all political prisoners and to others, including journalists and members of civil society, who may have been detained illegally.

“If the agreement is implemented before the end of 2017, it would represent an important development for the region and, we hope, an example for the DRC’s neighbours to follow.”

RDC: MLC – “ce compromis politique est aussi notre oeuvre”(05.01.2017)

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RDC: M.P. Communique du 5. Janvier 2017

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Welcoming Democratic Republic of the Congo political accord, UN Security Council urges efforts to resolve remaining issues (05.01.2017)

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The agreement – facilitated by Conférence Episcopale Nationale du Congo (CENCO) mediators, and reached in DRC’s capital, Kinshasa, on 31 December 2016 – represents a significant step towards a peacefully managed transition.

NEW YORK, United States of America, January 5, 2017 – The United Nations Security Council today welcomed a comprehensive political agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and called on all stakeholders to continue to exercise flexibility and compromise in their discussions to swiftly resolve all pending issues, particularly those related to the holding of elections in the country within 2017.

“The Security Council is encouraged by the spirit of flexibility and compromise demonstrated by Congolese political leaders in reaching this agreement, for the stability, peace, development and consolidation of constitutional democracy in the DRC,” said a Presidential Statement read out at a formal meeting of the 15-member body today.

In the Statement, the Council also urged all political parties which didn’t sign the agreement to do so.

The agreement – facilitated by Conférence Episcopale Nationale du Congo (CENCO) mediators, and reached in DRC’s capital, Kinshasa, on 31 December 2016 – represents a significant step towards a peacefully managed transition consistent with the democratic principles enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

This new agreement followed an initial political agreement between part of the opposition and the majorité présidentielle reached in October under the auspices of the African Union facilitation.

Also by the Presidential Statement, the Council expressed hope for a swift implementation of the agreement in order to organise peaceful, credible, inclusive and timely presidential, national and provincial legislative elections no later than December 2017, as well as leading to a peaceful transfer of power.

“The Security Council stresses the importance for the Government of the DRC and its national partners to take all necessary steps to accelerate preparations for the elections without further delays, within the agreed timeframe,” added the Statement in which the Council also stressed the importance of the inclusion of women in the follow up and implementation of the agreement.

RDC: Interdiction de l’Importation de la viande de porc en provenance de la Belgique (03.01.2017)

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RDC: M.P. n’a pas demandé un 3e dialogue du Cenco (03.01.2017)

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RDC: Le secrétariat général de la Cenco annonce la signature de l’accord ce mardi par (03.01.2017)

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Moise Katumbi: Declaration suite a l’accord politique du 31 decembre 2016 (03.01.2017)

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RDC: Communication du Gouvernement du 02 Janvier 2017

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Democratic Republic of Congo : Didier Reynders satisfied with the announcement of the compromise (31.12.2016)

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On 31 December 2016, a compromise has been reached between different Congolese parties after a dialogue which was facilitated by the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders welcomes the announcement of this compromise facilitated by Congolese actors and congratulates the CENCO for its engagement.  The text is an important and positive step towards a swift and inclusive transition.

This will enable the organization of free elections in 2017, the reopening of the democratic space and the consensual management of the transition with respect for the Constitution. These essential measures are the key to an exit from the crisis, which was caused by not organizing presidential elections in 2016 provide for by the Constitution.

Belgium calls upon the negotiators to pursue their work in the same spirit so that the final details can be settled quickly. Belgium calls upon the Congolese institutions as well, to clarify and intensify the operations which will lead to these elections before the end of 2017.  Operational and financial transparence has to be increased significatively.  This will create the right conditions for good governance and external support, lacking for the moment.

Belgium will closely follow the implementation of the text, as well as the measures that will be taken to recreate a democratic space and the rights and freedoms. This will enable all opinions to thrive within the country. Thus, the elections will become an authentic reflection of the aspirations of the Congolese people.