The United Nations has warned that continued fighting in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo could disrupt the country’s presidential election scheduled for 23 December.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the DR Congo, Leila Zerrougui, told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that armed groups were still operating in parts of the country, noting that the provinces of Tanganyika and South Kivu, and parts of North Kivu, are most at risk.
Armed group violence in these “key provinces” could affect the deployment of electoral material and prevent certain parts of the population from voting on 23 December, she said.
Ms. Zerrougui urged the DR Congo government to not only ensure security during the vote but also to make sure women participated.
“It will be especially important for the Government to take steps in the coming weeks to secure polls, particularly to ensure the participation of women, who make up 50 percent of registered voters,” urged Ms. Zerrougui.
Her briefing came on the back of a collapse of a deal by opposition leaders to field a joint candidate for the election.
The DR Congo presidential election was initially scheduled to be held in November 2016 but the country’s electoral authority then said it was not able to conduct the poll due to logistical challenges.
The failure to hold the election meant Joseph Kabila stayed on as president, sparking accusations by opposition leaders that he had sabotaged the vote in order to cling on to power. Kabila, however, denied the allegations.
The December date was set following intense pressure from the international community and donors, who threatened dire consequences had the DR Congo government not ensured the vote went on before the end of the year.
Should the election go on as planned, it would be the first time the DR Congo has experienced a peaceful transition of power since gained independence in 1960.
