MONUSCO invites political actors to preserve a peaceful environment and to use legally prescribed channels to resolve disputes

KINSHASA, Dem. Rep. of Congo (DRC) February 2, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) takes note of the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) on 26th January and 1st February 2012 of the provisional results of the national legislative elections held on 28th November 2011 regarding 162 of the 169 electoral districts.

The CENI has submitted to the Supreme Court of

Justice which has jurisdiction over electoral disputes a recommendation that the results of the

remaining seven electoral districts be nullified.

This announcement of provisional results follows the publication of a series of partial results

within a context marked by complaints concerning the process of compilation of the results

which led the CENI to send field missions to a number of locations, notably in the provinces of Kasai Occidental, Kasai Oriental, Katanga, Maniema, North Kivu, Orientale and South Kivu.

MONUSCO welcomes the peaceful atmosphere which has been observed throughout the

country since the announcement of these results. It encourages all candidates and political

actors to use the legally prescribed channels for the resolution of disputes, and to refrain from

the use of force or violence.

MONUSCO also encourages the Supreme Court of Justice to examine with due diligence any

and all disputes referred to it with a view to contributing to a peaceful political climate and the

strengthening of the rule of law.

MONUSCO wishes to remind all parties concerned that it is continuing to monitor closely human rights violations and acts of violence committed, notably, in the context of the elections. It calls on the Congolese authorities to respect human rights obligations, particularly the rights to liberty, to freedom of movement and to freedom of expression as provided by international legal instruments ratified by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Congolese law.

MONUSCO whose mandate under Security Council Resolution 1991 of 28th June 2011 is to

provide technical and logistical support to the organization of the elections is continuing to work towards