UNSC urges peaceful campaign in DRC ahead of general elections

The UN Security Council on Tuesday urged all parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to campaign peacefully ahead of the Nov. 28 general elections, voicing "strong concerns" over reports of election-related violence in the country. "The members of the Security Council reiterated their call for credible and peaceful elections, for which the government of the DRC bears the primary responsibility," said a press statement issued by the Security Council. The Security Council "reiterated their strong concern over reports of election-related violence in the country and called upon all parties to campaign peacefully," said the statement. "The members of the Security Council reminded all political leaders that they are all responsible for ensuring a peaceful process and called upon on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, support the work of the Commission Electorale Nationale Independante (CENI) and resolve their differences peacefully," said the statement. In the press statement, the Security Council "urged all candidates their supports to refrain from any provocation or recourse to violence throughout the electoral process." The Security Council also voiced "deep concern" by the high levels of violence, especially sexual violence, and the human rights violations and abuses against civilians, said the statement. Recent weeks have seen the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress party organize several demonstrations in capital Kinshasa and other towns for political,electoral and other reasons, and some ended with clashes between protesters and police. Earlier on Tuesday, Roger Meece, special representative of the UN secretary-general for the DRC and head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), briefed the Security Council about the latest developments in the African country. "I was seeking to provide information to the council in terms of the state of preparation for the elections, the national elections expected at the end of November, as well as a review of the general security situation in the eastern part of the country and the general situation relevant to our mandate and our work seeking to accomplish that mandate," said Meece. The DRC will hold presidential and legislative elections on Nov. 28. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's most recent report on the DRC indicates that since June there have been politically motivated incidents and allegations of human rights violations linked to the election process. The council also heard on Tuesday from Margot Wallstrom, special representative of the UN secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict. Addressing reporters after briefing the council, Wallstrom said that she is still "very concerned" about sexual violence being used for political ends. "This is very important for all parties to also declare their commitment to fighting sexual violence so the candidates should be asked where they stand on this particular issue," she said.