
SPLM-IO: On the Allegations of detention of Tanzanian Citizen (02.01.2017)



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.






JUBA, South Sudan, December 30, 2016 – End of the year 2016 message, on behalf of Moustapha Soumaré, the Acting UNMISS SRSG and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan:
I would like to extend warm greetings to all the people of South Sudan as we enter this holiday season. As we approach the end of 2016, let us be reminded of the universal values of unity, equality and compassion, which bind us together as human beings – the spirit of Ubuntu (humanity). These values should always be far stronger than anything that divides us.
Sadly, our hopes for sustainable peace were not realized this year and prospects for an end to the conflict have been thwarted with a resurgence of violence in the capital and in many other areas of the country. This has resulted in terrible humanitarian and economic consequences for many South Sudanese. I call on all those engaged in conflict, be with organized forces, armed groups, militias, youth groups with arms and others, to stop all fighting and silence the guns immediately.
While there is no doubt that the fighting has cast a dark shadow over the implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement, we must never lose sight of the ultimate goal – a peaceful and prosperous future for the people of South Sudan. My colleagues and I serving with the United Nations stand ready to support South Sudan as it renews its commitment to the peace process and to help address its pressing humanitarian needs.





NEW YORK, United States of America, December 29, 2016 – The Secretary-General welcomes the inauguration of the new Federal Parliament of Somalia on 27 December 2016 and warmly congratulates the people of Somalia on this historic achievement in their quest for universal suffrage by 2020.
The Secretary-General urges the new Parliament to now maintain the momentum by moving swiftly to complete the electoral process, with the election of the Speakers of both houses and the Federal President. The Parliament should tackle urgent legislative priorities, including establishing a permanent Constitution of Somalia, in the larger interest of the people of Somalia.
The Secretary-General calls on the authorities to fill all remaining vacant seats in the Parliament expeditiously, while fulfilling their obligation to ensure that the seats reserved for women are filled by women. He emphasizes that any irregularity, abuse, or malpractice reported by the federal and state electoral bodies should be fully addressed to preserve the credibility of the process.
The Secretary-General commends the hard work of the Somali security forces and the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in providing a secure environment for the 2016 electoral process in Mogadishu and in the regional capitals. The successful inauguration of the Parliament marks further progress in ensuring political stability and security in Somalia.


