Looking ahead to next month’s run-off presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and beyond, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan Tuesday called for the UN mission in the vast African country to be extended until February, and also for continued authorization to reinforce troop numbers when necessary, writes UN News Centre.
Mr. Annan’s recommendations come in his latest report to the Security Council, which covers the past three months, and before the end of the current mandate of the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) on 30 September. In it he also stresses the need for the 29 October run-off contest between President Joseph Kabila and Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba to be credible and transparent.
In his report Mr. Annan asked the Council to extend the authorization to temporarily redeploy troops from the UN Operation in Burundi, known by its French acronym ONUB, to MONUC as required.
Commending the Congolese for the first round of presidential elections and National Assembly polls two months ago, he described these first democratic elections in over 40 years as a “landmark step” in the peace process. In the first round, President Kabila received 44.8 per cent of the vote to Vice-President Bemba’s 20 per cent.
However, he highlighted the challenges ahead after the next round, including the need for assistance in strengthening democratic institutions, promoting the rule of law and basic human rights, providing security as well as in other areas, and reiterated the UN’s backing while also calling for more international support.
Kilde: www.un.org
