DR Congo Crisis Reaches Boiling Point, UN Warns

KINSHASA: THE United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has issued a red alert over the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) owing to the continued deterioration of the security situation and ‘catastrophic’ humanitarian crises in the country.

“The members of the Security Council expressed concerns at the continued deterioration of the security situation and the worrisome humanitarian situation, which has reached catastrophic levels in some parts of the country and has prompted the UN to activate the highest level of emergency preparedness,” UN Security Council president, Kairat Umarov said in a statement.

The UNSC met on January 9, 2018 to discuss the situation in the DRC and activities of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

They were briefed by Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix onthe political, human rights, security and humanitarian situation in the country.

Tensions have been increasing in DRC after the expiration of President Joseph Kabila’s second and last term in December 2016 and the postponement of elections. Security forces on December 31 violently dispersed peaceful protestors demanding that Kabila steps down, resulting in the death of at 7people and the arrest of over 120 others.

“The members of the Security Council further noted with serious concern the continued political impasse and the violent incidents against protesters that took place in Kinshasa and other localities in the DRC on 31 December 2017. They strongly condemned the violence, which resulted in several deaths, and deeply regretted the loss of life.

“They underlined the importance of observing rule of law and called on the Congolese authorities to urgently investigate any disproportionate use of force by security forces on peaceful protesters, so that the perpetrators of these acts are swiftly brought to justice,” Umarov added.

The Catholic Church brokered an agreement between the incumbent President Kabila and the opposition political parties that was signed in October 2016, giving timelines for elections that were due in December 2017.

Kabila who signed the agreement making undertakings to step down once his term came to an end to pave way for a democratic election later made an about-turn resulting in rolling violent protests.

“The members of the Security Council reiterated that effective, swift and timely implementation of the Agreement and the recently adopted electoral timeline are essential for a peaceful and credible electoral process, a democratic transition of power, and the peace and stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as in supporting the legitimacy of the transitional institutions,” Umarov said in the statement.