Security Council Press Statement on the Situation in the DRC

The members of the Security Council continue to closely monitor the recent
developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They have taken note of the
appointment by President Joseph Kabila, on 7 April 2017, of a new Prime Minister, Mr.
Bruno Tshibala, and of the responses of national stakeholders, including the
Rassemblement, as well as the 20 April 2017 statement of the Confrence Episcopale
Nationale du Congo.

The members of the Security Council expressed their concern at the challenges facing
the implementation of the 31 December 2016 agreement, they noted that the signatories
of the agreement were unable to reach a consensus on the special arrangements of the
agreement signed on 27 April by some, but not all, of the signatories of the agreement.
They called on all stakeholders to redouble their efforts to achieve a greater degree of
inclusivity that would help in the resolution of the very serious problems faced by the
DRC. They reiterated their call for a swift implementation of the agreement, in good
faith and in all its components, in order to organize peaceful, credible, inclusive and
timely elections, no later than December 2017, leading to a peaceful transfer of power,
in accordance with the Constitution and Security Council resolution 2348 (2017). They
noted President Kabilas expression of support, in his address to the Congress on 5 April
2017, for implementing the agreement in full. They reiterated that effective, swift and
timely implementation of the agreement is critical to a credible process and the peace
and stability of the DRC, as well as in supporting the legitimacy of the transitional
institutions, as it represents a viable road map towards the holding of peaceful and
democratic elections.

To this end, the members of the Security Council called on all parties to remain
committed to the agreement and the overarching objective of peaceful, credible, free,
fair and inclusive elections by the end of 2017, including through the full and equal
participation of women. They called in that regard for the swift and inclusive
establishment of a government of national unity, the Comit National de Suivi de
lAccord, the adoption of a new electoral law and the full implementation of the
confidence building measures agreed in chapter V of the 31 December 2016 agreement,
some of which are yet to be implemented. They reiterated their commitment to act
accordingly regarding all Congolese actors whose actions and statements impede the
implementation of the agreement and the organization of the elections.

The members of the Security Council underscored the responsibility that all Congolese
political stakeholders bear at this critical juncture in their countrys history, especially
by overcoming their differences to reach consensus and upholding the interests and
wellbeing of their people above all other considerations, and in ensuring that they are
guided by the rule of law, restraint and the spirit of compromise and dialogue. They
called on all concerned political actors, whether in the DRC or abroad, to desist from
any actions that could exacerbate tensions. They further called upon all political parties,
their supporters, and other political actors to remain calm and refrain from violence of
any kind. Recalling Security Council resolution 2348 (2017), they urged the
Government as well as all relevant parties to ensure an environment conducive to the
conduct of this electoral process, in accordance with the Congolese Constitution, which
includes free and constructive political debate, freedom of opinion and expression,
including for the press, freedom of assembly, equitable access to media including State
media, the security of all political actors, freedom of movement for all candidates, as
well as for elections observers and witnesses, journalists, human rights defenders and
actors from civil society including women.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their condemnation of the violence
witnessed in the Kasa region over recent months and expressed serious concerns at
alleged violations and abuses of human rights committed in the region. They reiterated
their serious concern at serious violations of international humanitarian law committed
by local militia in that region, recruitment and use of children in armed conflict in
violation of applicable international law, as well as attacks on DRC security forces and
symbols of State authority. They further reiterated their serious concerns at the recent
reports of a number of mass graves and of killings of civilians by members of the
security forces of the DRC, all of which might constitute war crimes under international
law. They further expressed concerns over the deterioration of the humanitarian and
security situation, which has displaced more than 1 million people internally and forced
more than 11,000 people to flee the country. They underlined the urgent need for safe
and unhindered access for humanitarian actors.

The members of the Security Council also reiterated the importance and urgency of
prompt and transparent investigations into violations of international humanitarian law
and violation or abuses of human rights in the Kasais region. They further reiterated
their intention to closely monitor progress of the investigations into these violations,
including the disproportionate use of force, which will be conducted jointly by the
Government of the DRC, MONUSCO and the United Nations Joint Human Rights
Office in the DRC, and in collaboration with the AU, as announced by the Government
of the DRC, in order to bring to justice and hold accountable all those responsible, and
they look forward to their results.

The members of the Security Council stressed the need for a swift and full investigation
into the killing of the two members of the Group of Experts established pursuant to
Security Council resolution 1533 (2004) and underlined the need for full cooperation
from the Government of the DRC. In this context, they further welcomed the Secretary
Generals establishment of a UN Board of Inquiry to investigate the deaths of the two
experts and his commitment that the United Nations will do everything possible to
ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the
sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the DRC.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their support to the efforts of the
Special Representative of the Secretary General, the African Union and regional
organizations in helping to ensure the full implementation of the 31 December 2016
agreement, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2348 (2017).

4 May 2017