Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Statement by the Representatibe of the Russian Federation, Mr.Alexander Volgarev, at the Security Council meeting on the situation in DR Congo

We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Zerrougui, for the updated information on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the implementation of the December political agreement and the election preparations. We also note the briefings delivered by the President of the Conférence épiscopale nationale du Congo and the representative of civil society.

We regret that we were not able to hear from the head of the Congolese Independent National Electoral Commission. We agree that timely elections on 23 December would allow for a reduction of political tensions in the country. We understand that the technical and legislative preparations for the voting in December are consistent with the Independent National Electoral Commission calendar.

We note the measures taken by Kinshasa, including the timely adoption of laws distributing seats in provincial legislative bodies and local councils, as well as the publication of a list of parties permitted to run in the elections and other associations. We welcome the audit of the electoral list conducted under the auspices of the International Organization of la Francophonie and the fact that half of the political parties in the country have signed up to an electoral code of conduct.

We note President Kabila’s statement before the National Assembly in July, at which the Congolese leader once again restated his commitment to respecting the national Constitution. Finally, the registration process for presidential candidates has very recently come to a close. As Council members will be aware, the Front commun pour le Congo has put forward one candidate: Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

We believe that these signals are appropriate and timely, and encourage opposition parties to refrain from pushing a negative agenda. We call on colleagues not to demonize the decision of the Congolese Independent National Electoral Commission to use electronic voting machines. We agree that in order to avoid any problems in the electoral process, Kinshasa must guarantee its sustainable financing.

We respect the decision of the Congolese Government to support this process mainly on its own resources, while we also draw attention to the potential logistical support that the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could offer. We do not rule out the need for the Congolese authorities to update their implementation of confidence-building measures, including on the significant aspects of the political agreement regarding high-profile cases against political actors abroad.

However, we encourage all opposition parties in the Republic to work with Kinshasa and the Independent National Electoral Commission to avoid any outbreak of violence. It is, moreover, imperative in our view that the national sovereignty and legislation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo be respected. It is our understanding that the role of the United Nations Mission in organizing and holding elections should not go beyond the mandate anchored in resolution 2409 (2017).

The protection of civilians in the electoral context should be carried out with full observance of basic peacekeeping principles and without interference in the domestic affairs of Kinshasa. We believe that it is up to the Congolese people themselves decide their own fate, and that the objective of the international community should be to provide assistance in those areas where it is genuinely necessary. Elections alone are no panacea.

We must focus on addressing the root causes of the crisis, and on the need to continue the fight against illegal armed groups in the east of the country, which continue to pose a threat to the civilian population.