Deploring Reported Loss of Life in Democratic Republic of Congo, Secretary-General Urges Parties to De-escalate Tensions, Resolve Outstanding Issues

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

The Secretary-General is closely monitoring developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the mediation led by the Conférence épiscopale nationale des églises du Congo (CENCO) resumed today.

He urges all parties involved in the CENCO-led mediation to work constructively and in good faith the outstanding issues related to transitional arrangements leading to the elections, in keeping with the Congolese Constitution.  He calls on Congolese political leaders to place the interests of the country and the people above partisan and personal considerations.  He urges them to de-escalate tensions and create an environment conducive to the successful completion of the CENCO-facilitated dialogue and the holding of timely, credible and transparent elections.  The Secretary-General encourages the new Government led by Prime Minister Samy Badibanga to take concrete steps, in line with the 18 October political agreement.

The Secretary-General deplores the reported loss of life in confrontations between the security forces and protesters, including in Kinshasa.  He stresses the need for the national security forces to exercise the utmost restraint in the maintenance of public order.  He calls on the Democratic Republic of the Congo authorities to investigate any acts of violence and ensure the perpetrators are held accountable.

The Secretary-General calls on all political actors, including the opposition, to exercise maximum restraint in their actions and statements and urge their supporters to refrain from violence.  He urges the authorities, once again, to promote and protect human rights and to uphold the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.