The head of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo [MONUSCO] Bintou Keita says the Congolese government must guarantee the safety of.all presidential aspirants, politicians and its citizens ahead of the elections.
In response to a joint request made by LGD leader Augustin Matata Mapon and Ensemble pour la République president Moise Katumbi for the UN (MONUSCO)to put in place an appropriate security system for the declared presidential candidates of December 2023, Keita says it was the responsibility of the Congolese government to do so.
Katumbi and Matata were particularly incensed with the attack on a fellow opposition leader Delly Sesanga of Envol who was struck with a missile on July 29 by a group of unidentified people in Kananga.
Katumbi and Matata reiterated their request to secure the presidential candidates during the electoral period.
“This is about the credibility and inclusiveness of the electoral process,” they said in their July 31 press release.
In response, Keita said, “Securing any candidate and any electoral process is primarily the responsibility of the Congolese state.”
Keita addressed the media at the United Nations HQ in Kinshasa.
The representative of the UN Secretary General, however, assured that MONUSCO will make recommendations to ensure secure the electoral process and its players.
The UN Mission takes part in the structure spearheaded by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Interior, Security and Customary Affairs.
Tension is rising in the DRC ahead of the December 20 presidential polls.
