Condemning Clashes in Democratic Republic of Congo between Protesters, Security Forces, Secretary-General Urges Stakeholders to Refrain from Further Violence

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General expresses his deep concern about the violent clashes between protestors and security forces in Kinshasa, and several other locations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  He condemns the violence that has already led to the death of at least 17 people, including three police officers in the capital.

The Secretary-General urges all concerned political leaders and their supporters to refrain from any further violence that could exacerbate the situation.  He calls on the Congolese authorities to ensure that the national security forces exercise maximum restraint in their response to protests.  He also calls on all political leaders to address their differences peacefully and through dialogue, in line with Security Council resolution 2277 (2016).