Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - The head of the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), Martin Kobler, has offered to mediate in the national dialogue (see Fides 02/06/2015) initiated by President Josesph Kabila in view of the upcoming local, legislative and presidential elections, whose calendar is however yet to be determined.
The political opposition and civil society have welcomed the proposal of national dialogue "with great suspicion, suspecting yet of another ploy to get a postponement of the elections and keep the president in power beyond 2016. This is because - according to a note sent to Agenzia Fides by Peace Network for Congo - not enough information on date, time, place, participants, content, methodology, aims and objectives" of the national dialogue was given.
According to the note, to be realistic dialogue must take place in full respect of the Constitution, without it being manipulated for personal or group interests; it has to take place under the guidance of a neutral and independent personality, such as a UN representative or civil society; to review the current electoral calendar, considered by many unrealistic and unrealizable, especially for the many elections planned in a short space of time (just over one year); to make sure that the government guarantees the financing of all the stages of the election; to ensure the safety of the population and respect for human rights, including freedom of expression and demonstration, before, during and after every election period. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/06/2015)
