Democratic

DR Congo: more than 70,000 return home under UN repatriation programme

28 September 2006
The United Nations voluntary repatriation programme for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has brought home more than 70,000 refugees since it started operations just under a year ago as the vast country moves ahead with its transition from a deadly six-year civil war.
William Lacy Swing, SRSG for Democratic Republic of the Congo

DR Congo: UN envoy says country should be ready to hold successful polls next month

27 September 2006
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) should have all the necessary financial, logistical and security elements in place to successfully stage the run-off round of landmark presidential elections next month, the senior United Nations envoy to the country said today.
Kofi Annan

Annan calls for extension of the UN mission in the DR Congo ahead of October’s poll

26 September 2006
Looking ahead to next month’s run-off presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and beyond, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called for the UN mission in the vast African country to be extended until February, and also for continued authorization to reinforce troop numbers when necessary.
Amb. Adamantios Vassilakis

Vowing support for peaceful DR Congo polls, Security Council urges all sides to follow

22 September 2006
The Security Council today pledged its commitment to peaceful elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) next month, urging all sides in the second round of polls to follow suit, while the country’s new National Assembly – its first elected legislative body in more than four decades – was formally inaugurated.

DR Congo: UN announces campaign dates for 2nd round of presidential election

20 September 2006
Campaigning for the run-off presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between President Joseph Kabila and Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba will take place from 13 to 27 October in the second phase of the largest and most complex vote the United Nations has ever helped organize.

Annan calls for peaceful, lawful elections as DR Congo prepares for October run-off

18 September 2006
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on all parties and candidates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where run-off elections are scheduled for October, to ensure that the process is peaceful and lawful.

DR Congo Supreme Court rules runoff elections can go on as scheduled – UN mission

15 September 2006
The Supreme Court of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today validated the results of July’s historic presidential vote and ruled that the runoff election can take place as scheduled on 29 October, despite a constitutional provision that would have required it to be held much sooner, reports the UN mission in the DRC.

Spotlighting ‘cancer’ of sexual abuse in DR Congo, UN aid chief calls for global pressure

15 September 2006
Describing sexual abuse as “a cancer in Congolese society that seems to be out of control,” the United Nations’ most senior humanitarian official today urged the Security Council to exert pressure on the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) armed forces to end the impunity for soldiers who commit sex crimes.

DR Congo presidential contenders meet face-to-face, UN mission reports

13 September 2006
The two leading presidential candidates who emerged from July’s historic elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today met face to face for the first time since their supporters engaged in deadly clashes last month, according to the UN mission in the embattled central African country.

DR Congo’s 2 leading presidential candidates to meet face to face – UN mission

12 September 2006
Three weeks after supporters of the two leading presidential candidates in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) clashed in the streets of Kinshasa, the two politicians have finally agreed to meet face to face, the UN mission in the country reported today.