A UN Security Council’s delegation arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to meet government over political and security developments in the country.
The delegation arrived on Friday evening and met with the country’s Prime Minister Augustin Matata-Ponyo. They also met the head of state Joseph Kabila and other members of the government.
President Kabila affirmed that the current constitution did not allow a third term but said a constitutional amendment to that effect was not illegal.
The UN implored the government to respect the rights of citizens and opponents to protest stressing that it was important for the authorities to be fully aware of their responsibilities in achieving a peaceful transition in the country.
A ban on political demonstrations in Kinshasa, led the opposition coalition, the Rally, to cancel a demonstration scheduled for 5 November. The UN team also urged the Congolese authorities to re-establish the signal of the French radio station RFI, which was cut nearly a week ago.
The UN mission, which intends to help the DRC to return to the path of political stability, believes that it has “gone through all the political issues to better understand the roadmap”, said the Angolan diplomat on the team, Ismael Abraao Gaspar Martins.
The delegation has also called for peace as the country moves to reschedule its November election.
A letter sent to the UN ahead of the visit by Human Rights Watch urged the body to urge Joseph Kabila to withdraw at the end of his mandate in December 2016. The NGO called for urgent implementation of targeted sanctions against intelligence and security and government officials responsible for violent repression and other serious violations of human rights.
The UN delegation travels Sunday to eastern DRC, where armed groups have killed nearly 700 people in two years.
