Security Council Presidential Statement Welcomes Comprehensive, Inclusive Peace Accord in Democratic Republic of Congo
Encouraged by the spirit of flexibility and compromise demonstrated by Congolese political leaders, the Security Council welcomed today the signing of a comprehensive and inclusive political agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 31 December 2016.
Issuing presidential statement S/PRST/2017/1, read out by Olof Skoog (Sweden), its President for January, the 15-nation Council commended the efforts of mediators from the Conférence Épiscopale Nationale du Congo to facilitate the agreement. It also expressed hope for swift implementation of the accord, in line with the Congolese Constitution and with resolution 2277 (2016), in order to facilitate peaceful, credible, inclusive and timely elections no later than December 2017, leading to a peaceful transfer of power.
The Council called upon all Congolese actors to preserve the spirit of the mediators in order to swiftly resolve all pending issues, especially the practical modalities of managing the executive in an inclusive manner, both before and during the elections. It stressed that the Government and its national partners must take all necessary steps to accelerate election preparations within the agreed time frame. The Council further stressed the importance of including women in implementing and following up on the agreement.
Beginning at 3:02 p.m., the meeting ended at 3:10 p.m.
Presidential Statement
The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2017/1 reads as follows:
“The Security Council welcomes the signing of the “comprehensive and inclusive political agreement” in Kinshasa on 31 December 2016, which follows the political agreement reached on 18 October 2016 under the auspices of the African Union facilitation, and commends the tireless efforts by the Conférence Episcopale Nationale du Congo (CENCO) mediators to facilitate the agreement.
“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, and calls on all Congolese actors to preserve this spirit in the discussions to come in order to swiftly resolve all pending issues, especially the practical modalities of the inclusive management of the executive during the pre-electoral and electoral period. The Security Council encourages the political parties which didn’t sign the agreement to do so.
“The Security Council hopes for a swift implementation of the agreement, in good faith and in all its components, in accordance with the Congolese Constitution and in line with UNSC resolution 2277, in order to organize peaceful, credible, inclusive and timely presidential, national and provincial legislative elections no later than December 2017, 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 time frame. The Security Council stresses the importance of the inclusion of women in the follow-up and implementation of the agreement.
“The Security Council reiterates its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“The Security Council further calls for the assistance of DRC’s friends and development partners to support the efforts of the country to ensure establishment of sustainable peace and security in the country.
“The Security Council reiterates its commitment to support the implementation of the agreement in close cooperation with the African Union and its determination to continue to closely follow the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular the respect of human rights, the security conditions on the ground and the efforts to successfully conclude the electoral process, and to act accordingly.”