YouSaid · the spoken record

She Okitundu

lines on the record

310

first

1999-03-19

most recent

2018-03-07

sittings or episodes

13

sources

un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

1. “In order to be effective, the partnership must have the appropriate resources to carry out unconventional warfare and combat the asymmetrical methods of armed groups. In conclusion, I wish to express my Government's appreciation to Mr. Maman Sambo Sidikou, former Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for the work he carried out during his term in office at the Head of MONUSCO to restore peace in my country. My Government sincerely thanks him. In the same vein, my Government welcomes the appointment of Ms. Leila Zerrougui as the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My Government assures her of the same support given to her predecessor to enable her to carry out her duties.”

   2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

2. “We will have succeeded together in the Democratic Republic of the Congo when the renewal of MONUSCO's mandate no longer needs to be discussed, which is the wish of the Congolese people and of my Government. We hope that this will be the penultimate renewal and will definitively contribute to the return of peace for the people of the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The crucial mandate entrusted to MONUSCO cannot be successful without eradicating armed groups, whose activities constitute the main threat to civilians. The terms of reference of the new MONUSCO mandate must therefore absolutely include the imperative of eradicating armed groups among the priorities of the strategic partnership and under the leadership of the FARDC.”

   2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

3. “In those exchanges between our country and the United Nations, the review should focus on practical arrangements and planning for the gradual and permanent withdrawal of MONUSCO troops. Indeed, MONUSCO's goal is not to remain ad infinitum in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We must therefore hash out together a negotiated withdrawal strategy within a reasonable time frame. For the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Force Intervention Brigade should be the last to leave the country, along with civil services and various offices supporting democracy building, which can continue to carry out their activities after the end of the tracking operations against the armed groups.”

   2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

4. “As we just mentioned, it is important to equip it with appropriate equipment to make it more effective. With regard to disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and rehabilitation, I am sure the Council will agree with me that this programme is of great importance in terms of reintegrating ex-combatants to prevent them from being recruited again by armed groups. That programme should be one of the priorities in MONUSCO's new mandate. Discussions on the partnership between the Democratic Republic of Congo and MONUSCO should continue in the context of dialogue and the strategic review, the objective of which is the reorganization of human, financial, logistical and other resources, in accordance with the new mandate that the Security Council will entrust to MONUSCO.”

   2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

5. “In that regard, MONUSCO units that are not essential to military operations against armed groups and that are present in areas where a MONUSCO force is not justified, and where the concentration of forces is greater than the level of the threat, must be withdrawn to reduce the number of troops and adapt the force to the tracking of armed troops. Returning to the Force Intervention Brigade, which operates in a partnership, my Government regrets that it has not been consulted on important issues affecting peace in the region, such as the withdrawal of Tanzanian artillery and South African aviation unit, as well as its relocation from the command centre of the Rapid Intervention Brigade in the theatre of operations to a fixed base in Goma, which undermined its effectiveness.”

   2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

6. “To that end, it is crucial to strengthen the operational effectiveness of United Nations forces, primarily those of the Force Intervention Brigade, the only offensive force that can counter those armed groups. In View of the situation on the ground, that wish remains in effect. Considering that situation, my Government calls for a qualitative resizing of the MONUSCO force with fewer, but more specialized, troops who are able to track down armed groups and capable of dealing with asymmetrical threats. For the Mission's new mandate, those troops must work in close collaboration with the FARDC, enjoy greater flexibility and mobility, and be equipped with appropriate equipment for greater efficiency. Priority should therefore be given to the Force Intervention Brigade, the spearhead of that MONUSCO-FARDC partnership.”

   2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

7. “In order to avoid contradictions in the statistics published by various United Nations bodies, United Nations agencies and MONUSCO must interact and communicate with UNF PA prior to publishing any reported case that falls under the category set out in the joint communique signed on 30 March 2013 between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Nations to combat conflict-related sexual violence. In March 2017, my Government asked that the renewal of the mandate of MONUSCO take into account the expectations of the Congolese people, whose most ardent wish is to see the negative forces and various armed groups that are attacking the eastern part of the country totally eradicated.”

   2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

8. “My country therefore continues to wait for that willingness to materialize and for the FARDC and the Congolese National Police to be effectively delisted. With regard to the case of sexual violence referred to in paragraph 30 of the report under review (S/2018/ 174), my Government regrets that the information provided by MONUSCO did not respect the requirements of the national strategy to combat sexual violence, which calls for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Congolese Ministry of Gender to be the only institutions charged with producing data on cases of gender-based violence in general, and sexual violence in particular.”

   2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

9. “It should be noted that, in order to deal with the situation, the Government has established the National Fund for Humanitarian Solidarity. It goes without saying that any external support in this area is always welcome. Thanks to the systematic work in the fight against impunity carried out by the judiciary in general, and by the military judiciary in particular, my country has made enormous progress in the fight against sexual violence, which is recognized by the Secretary- General in his letter of 27 April 2017 and in his various reports. Taking into account that situation, the Secretary-General has shown willingness to remove the FARDC and the Congolese National Police from the list of country security forces listed for rape.”

   2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

10. “In the same vein, all foreign fighters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including combatants from the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/Sudanese People's Liberation Army in Opposition, were asked to return to their countries. With regard to the humanitarian aspect, while recognizing the prevailing situation in the conflict- affected parts of our country, on which the Government's attention is focused, we believe that there is a great disparity between the statistics presented by some foreign partners and those provided by the Congolese public services in charge of humanitarian issues. In that regard, my Government believes that there is a need to strengthen collaboration and partnership in our humanitarian work in order to clarify the number of people, Congolese and others, in need of assistance.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

11. “As part of those efforts, my country calls once again for the involvement of the Security Council and the international community, in accordance with the recommendation of the eighth high-level meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region, which was held in Brazzaville on 21 October 2017, for the unconditional repatriation to their country of origin, no later than 20 October, of disarmed FDLR ex-combatants and their dependents who are still in transit camps in Kisangani, in Tshopo province, and Kanyabayonga and Walungu, in North and South Kivu provinces. That unconditional repatriation also concerns ex-combatants of the former Mouvement du 23 Mars.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

12. “Special training and appropriate equipment are required to combat it. As to the Forces democratiques de liberation du Rwanda (FDLR), although they are weakend, the FARDC continues to carry out the operations it started as part of its Operation Sukola II in order to completely eradicate it.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

13. “The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which recently stepped up their attacks against the FARDC, peacekeepers and civilians, is a source of great concern that deserves the attention of the entire international community. For our part, on 13 January, the FARDC launched a vast military offensive, which unfortunately is being carried out without MONUSCO, to neutralize that negative force. The notable results of that operation included the death of ADF senior commander Muhamad Kayira, on 22 February during an operation to seize the Mapobu Valley. He was on a list of 26 Rwandan, Ugandan and Tanzanian nationals wanted by Congolese courts for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region. As we have often pointed out, the ADF is using asymmetrical methods in their attacks.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

14. “Nonetheless, since it arrived in Kananga, in Kasai Central province, the Robert Petit team has been working in close cooperation with the high-level military investigation. The investigators returned to Kananga on 20 February, after having gone home for the New Year's holidays. As for the four Congolese who accompanied the two experts, an investigation is under way at the military court in Kananga. It is also being conducted jointly with the monitoring mechanism of the Special Prosecutor of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On the security front, the Forces armees de la Republique democratique du Congo (FARDC) are continuing their operations to rid North and South Kivu provinces ofnegative forces and reassert State authority in the Kasai area to restore peace and security.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

15. “Contrary to what some people are saying, it is precisely in order to cooperate fully with the Democratic Republic of the Congo follow- up mechanism - negotiated between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, with the appointment of a special prosecutor - that the trial has slowed down, because we are awaiting new evidence, to be provided by the investigating team of the special prosecutor. Indeed, the prosecutor considered that he had collected enough evidence to go to court, and it was under these conditions that the hearings I spoke of took place. They were moving towards an indictment by the public prosecutor and arguments for the defence when the military tribunal was asked to suspend the hearings while it awaited, as I noted, new evidence from international experts.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

16. “Nonetheless, concerning the specific events of 25 February, it should be underscored that the two presumed suspects in the murders of two compatriots, in Mbandaka and Kinshasa, have been arrested. On the justice system, it is important to recall that the trial on the murder of the two United Nations experts has been under way since 5 June 2017 at the military tribunal of Kananga, Kasai Central, which is holding its twenty-eighth public hearing. Twelve suspects are appearing and 13 others have fled and are being actively sought; they are being tried in absentia. Tshidima Constantin Bula Bula, accused of ordering the murders, was arrested at the end of December and is currently being questioned by the prosecutor general, who will then make him available to the competent court.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

17. “Regarding the events of 31 December 2017 and 21 January 2018, the Government on 1 February 2018 set up a joint commission of inquiry with representatives of the Government, the National Human Rights Commission, non-governmental organizations that champion human rights, the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. The Commission's mission is to consider the issue of loss of life and other related issues. The Commission is also charged with investigating the events of 25 February. Following the investigations, its conclusions will be communicated to the Ministry of Justice, which will transmit them to the judiciary.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

18. “De-escalation must concern all stakeholders: those of the majority, the opposition and civil society, including the Catholic Church, as well as international partners, which must act in the desired way, namely, to constructively and peacefully support the political process leading to elections. On human rights, as I already told the Council, the situation regarding fundamental freedoms in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not part of a deliberate policy to violate human rights. When such violations occur, they are solely the acts of the individuals involved and must not go unpunished.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

19. “Furthermore, the Government is concerned at the improper use of the concept of political de-escalation in a charged context dominated by opposition-led insurrectional politics aimed at upending the established legal order, in violation of the Constitution and the Agreement of 31 December 2016 to hold a peaceful, credible and transparent elections. Political de-escalation should not be considered as a unilateral requirement that the Government alone should uphold. Inflammatory rhetoric seeking to undermine the institutions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, calls for insurrection and popular revolt by using places of worship and unjust targeted sanctions that violate the norms of international law do not contribute to the goal of easing the pre-electoral climate.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

20. “As I underscored on 12 February during a meeting on the electoral process in my country, in order to ensure that the elections are well organized and to create a climate conducive to their success, the Government is working to fulfil the tasks that have been conferred on it. In that context, the Government and MONUSCO, in the quest for a solution to the thorny issue of political de-escalation, met on 25 and 31 January to address, inter alia, issues relating to political demonstrations, the media and the release of so-called political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. The conclusions of the meeting came out in the form of a report that is to be signed by the stakeholders.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

21. “In the meantime, in order to strengthen confidence, dispel doubts and maintain contact with the various stakeholders in the process of ensuring that credible and transparent elections are held, the Commission has undertaken an awareness- raising and educational campaign on technical and operational questions relating to the elections, in particular relating to voting machines, with parties and political groups in the opposition, the majority and civil society. Since 1 February it has undertaken to clean up the electoral register, which will enable the Parliament to adopt a law on the distribution of seats during its current session. This stage will be the last institutional requirement for the holding of elections, in line with the electoral calendar.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

22. “Although I rightly appreciate the content of the report, nonetheless Iwould briefly like to state my Government's views on a number of the issues addressed therein. The political aspect, as the Council is aware, remains dominated by the electoral process. Following the completion on 31 January of voter registration, the Independent National Electoral Commission will undertake in coming months, in keeping with the electoral calendar, to identifying and registering Congolese abroad.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

23. “I would once again like to express to the Council the gratitude of the Congolese people and its Government for the efforts that the United Nations continues to deploy in the quest for solutions to bring about a lasting peace in my country. Iwould also like to take this opportunity to commend the Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, and to express our appreciation to him for his commitment to defending and promoting the purposes and principles of the Charter and the cause of my country. I must also thank Ms. Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MONUSCO, for his presentation of the report of the Secretary-General on MONUSCO (S/2018/174).”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

24. “Mr. She Okitundu (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (spoke in French): It is an honour and a great pleasure for me to participate in this Security Council meeting on the situation in my country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). I would like also to discharge my duty to congratulate the Kingdom of the Netherlands, your country, Mr. President, on its accession to the presidency of the Council for this month of March and to convey to you our deep appreciation for the manner in which you are presiding over our debates.”

    2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source

25. “In its quest to achieve peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, my Government appreciates the support that it has received from international and regional organizations, including the African Union, the International Organization of la Francophonie, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region of Africa, the Southern African Development Community and many others. This is an opportunity for my country to pay tribute and express our gratitude to them, as well as to the troop- contributing countries. I would like to reiterate the gratitude of my Government to all members of the Council for their commitment to the cause of peace in my country.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

26. “Public order requires and takes precedence over the exercise of that freedom. That is why I would like to assure the Council of the determination of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to see the Agreement of 31 December implemented, which it is doing, despite all the concerns I have heard today. As far as the organization of elections is concerned, the main condition for getting that done is determining who the electors are. And as I said earlier, the voter registration process will be finalized in around 30 days. After that, and as the Independent National Electoral Commission has promised, the electoral calendar will be published, and we will know when the elections are to take place. I wanted to put the concerns that I have just heard into perspective.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

27. “With regard, first, to the comments about the disproportionate use of force, there is absolutely no deliberate policy for using disproportionate force. Ifsuch cases occur, it is individuals who are responsible, and those individuals would be punished and condemned. With regard to freedom of expression and the freedom to demonstrate, I would like to remind the Council that we are bound by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which cannot be broken - its freedoms are absolute, but their interpretation can be relative. Restrictions do exist, but such restrictions are necessary in all democratic societies. In our country, an instance of people inciting to insurrection through a demonstration clearly does not fall within the context ofthe democratic exercise ofthe freedom of expression.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

28. “The first should be carried out in areas where MONUSCO's presence is no longer necessary, the second in areas where the concentration of forces is greater than the threat, and the third in the areas where threats persist or new challenges are emerging. With regard to the composition of MONUSCO'S contingents, we believe that the Intervention Brigade should be the last force to leave the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, given the nature of its actions and its origin. This morning I have heard concern and even uncertainty from members ofthe Council regarding the implementation of the Agreement and the organization of the elections. I will try to put that into perspective. The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is no worse than in other countries in similar circumstances.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

29. “As I emphasized to the Council two months ago, the major remaining challenge in that part of the country is a humanitarian one. Caring for the internally and externally displaced persons who are returning demands that we mobilize all our partners for urgent assistance. With regard to the strategic dialogue - beyond the first phase, which was held in March 2016 - resolution 2348 (2017) provides for the dialogue between the Government and MONUSCO to continue. In that regard, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo believes that the withdrawal of the United Nations forces should be carried out gradually in three phases.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

30. “To bring this chapter to a close, I should briefly mention that calm returned yesterday to the provinces of Kasai and Kasai Central, which suffered terrorist attacks by the Kamuina Nsapu militia. Investigations have been opened to shed light on the exact circumstances of the crimes committed, establish accountability for them and identify their perpetrators with a view to punishing them. The local population, which had sought refuge in neighbouring provinces and in Angola, is beginning to return. In order to restore their confidence and promote peaceful coexistence, the President of the Republic, at the end of his visit to the provinces concerned with the purpose of reassuring the people, initiated and presided over a forum on peace, reconciliation and development, involving all the stakeholders in those provinces.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

31. “I once again reiterate my Government's call to the international community to repatriate them to their countries of origin or, failing that, to a third-party country outside the Great Lakes region. Concerning the combatants of the Sudan People's Liberation Army quartered in Munigi, Dungu and Goma in North Kivu, my Government appreciates the efforts made in that regard by MONUSCO in collaboration with the Governments of South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Those efforts have resulted in the repatriation of eight of them and the relocation of 58 others to Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan. My Government hopes that those efforts will continue until all those still in the transit sites are either repatriated or relocated to third-party countries.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

32. “The report also mentions the possibility of Uganda's granting refugee status to these former rebels, a possibility that my country will verify through the appropriate channels before discussing it with the Ugandan Government. If the persons concerned meet the requirements of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the decision of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees will be final. In my various statements I have always brought up the issue of the 340 combatants of the Forces democratiques de liberation du Rwanda who are still waiting to be repatriated in transit sites in Kanyabayonga in North Kivu, Walungu in South Kivu and Kisangani in Tshopo.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

33. “According to information from various sources, including the tripartite meeting of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan in Kinshasa from 2 to 4 September, they will be joining various armed groups operating in the Central African Republic, Burundi and South Sudan as well as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Council will agree that this development could harm peace and stability in the entire region. With regard to these issues, President Kabange and his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Museveni, decided at their most recent meeting to coordinate their efforts to eradicate negative forces in the region and to launch joint operations shortly.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

34. “As regards the former combatants of the Mouvement du 23 mars (M-23), in my statement to the Council in August (see S/PV.8026), I brought members up to date on the political and military activities of those ex-rebels in the neighbouring countries where they had found refuge, a situation that has also been brought to the attention of the authorities of those countries. For that reason, my Government has appealed to the Council to put pressure on the countries involved to comply with their commitments under the Addis Ababa agreement, and that we should also consider imposing sanctions on the former M-23's leaders. The disappearance of more than 900 M-23 members cantoned in the Bihanga military camp is very worrying.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

35. “On the security front, both reports mention the activities of armed groups in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as in certain States of the Great Lakes region. With regard to my country specifically, our armed forces are continuing their fight to eradicate such groups in collaboration with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Given those negative forces' unconventional operating methods, my country is of the view that MONUSCO should aim at maximum effectiveness by providing the Intervention Brigade with the means that can enable it to fulfil the tasks assigned to it under resolution 2348 (2017).”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

36. “Nevertheless, the Conseil national de suivi de l'accord, the Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission can unanimously evaluate the timeline required for the finalization of election dates." A second evaluation meeting is planned for 12 to 14 October 2017 in order to make that decision. To conclude this point, it is important to underscore that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is firmly committed to the irreversibility of organizing the elections, as President Joseph Kabila Kabange stated from the rostrum of the General Assembly Hall (see A/72/PV.19). But we must ensure that they are strong elections that will be conducive to a peaceful transition of power and can avoid the unfortunate turmoil that marked the previous elections, in 2006 and 2011.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

37. “Paragraph 2.1 of chapter 2 of the Agreement states that "[t]he parties commit to respecting the Constitution of 18 February 2006, as amended in 2011, and the laws of the Republic, and to organize presidential, legislative, national and provincial elections, as well as local elections, in conformity with the Constitution." As for the possibility of postponing the elections, paragraph 4.2 of chapter 4 of the Agreement states that "[t]he parties agree to organize elections in a single presidential, legal, national and provincial sequence in December 2017 at the latest.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

38. “That announcement continues to give rise to differing views on the legitimacy of my country's institutions thereafter. It seems hardly necessary to affirm in that regard that the institutions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, like those of other States around the world, derive their legitimacy from the Constitution. The Comprehensive and Inclusive Political Agreement, signed at Kinshasa's Interdiocesan Centre and based specifically on our desire to organize peaceful, credible and transparent elections, also commits the signatories to respect for the Constitution.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

39. “In answer to that, I can say that the Conseil national de suivi de 1'accord, together with the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Government, has begun evaluating the electoral process, and that the calendar will be published as soon as that is done. The Council is no doubt aware, however, that the Commission published draft calendars on two previous occasions, in 2014 and 2015, which were not only systematically rejected by the opposition but also did not receive the expected support from the international community. As a result, the elections have been postponed until now. Moreover, for logistical, financial, security and legal reasons, the President of the Independent National Electoral Commission announced several months ago that the three elections planned for December could not take place at that time.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

40. “With regard to the electoral process, as the Council knows, the process of updating the electoral register has entered its final phase with the enrolment of voters in Kasai and Kasai Central provinces, as well as in the territories of Luilu and Kamiji in Lomami province, all of which have been in turmoil in the wake of the deplorable events involving the Kamuina Nsapu militia. Of 45 million expected voters, 42 million have already been registered. As we can see, my country is well and truly on the road to holding elections. The question that everyone on the Council has asked today is about the electoral calendar.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

41. “In that regard, I would like to say a few words about the political situation in my country, with particular emphasis on the implementation of the Comprehensive and Inclusive Political Agreement of 31 December 2016 and the electoral process, as well as on the security situation and the strategic dialogue. With regard to the implementation of the Agreement, as indicated in the Secretary-General's report of 15 August 2017 (S/2017/712), following the establishment of a Government of National Unity, the Conseil national de suivi de l'accord was created. It is functioning and is headed by a member of the Rassemblement opposition. I will come back to that in a moment.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

42. “My delegation takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region (S/2017/825) and on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (S/2017/824), issued on 29 September and 2 October respectively, and we thank Mr. Maman Samba Sidikou, Special Representative of the Secretary- General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who has just presented them. While we appreciate the reports' content, we believe it is important to clarify a number of points that deserve the Council's attention.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

43. “I would also like to welcome and express my esteem for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his commitment and personal involvement in the quest for peaceful solutions to the situation in my country. Before I proceed, on behalf of the Government of my country, I would like to strongly condemn the attacks on peacekeepers perpetrated by the Allied Democratic Forces in North Kivu, which resulted in the death of two Tanzanian Blue Helmets and injured 18 others. My country offers its deepest condolences to the United Nations and the Government of Tanzania, as well as to the victims' families.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

44. “Mr. She Okitundu (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (spoke in French): At the outset, it is my honour to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of October, andhow honoured we are to see France presiding over the deliberations of the Council today. I would also like to thank you sincerely for taking the initiative to organize this meeting on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to assure you of our support and cooperation throughout your mandate. I would be remiss ifI did not once again express my gratitude to the Council, on behalf of the Congolese Government and people, for its remarkable continued efforts to help my country restore much-needed stability and harness the energy it needs for its development.”

    2017-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8067 (2017) · source

45. “I would like to conclude by expressing my gratitude to the Chairman of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic ofthe Congo for the work he has done since he assumed his post. I would also like to thank the Group of Experts for its commitment and determination in the exercise of its mandate. To all members of the Council, I reiterate the gratitude of the Government and people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The meeting rose at 12.05 pm.”

    2017-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8026 (2017) · source

46. “I refer specifically to the recommendation on the establishment of an independent international investigation into the murder of the two experts and that requesting the extension of the Group's mandate to 30 December 2018. My Government does not think it is a good idea to set up such an inquiry in that, in accordance with 35/33 of the Human Rights Council and for reasons of transparency, we are already cooperating with established United Nations mechanisms and with the inquiries being conducted by the appropriate authorities of the countries of origin of the two victims. As to the request for an extension of the terms of reference of the Group of Experts, my Government considers that this issue has already been resolved in resolution 2360 (2017) of 21 June, which extended the mandate of the Group until 1 August 2018.”

    2017-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8026 (2017) · source

47. “The Prosecutor General of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will agree on the practical modalities for partnership \with his Swedish counterpart, through appropriate letters rogatory. In this tragic situation, my country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has suffered much loss of life. Law enforcement officers and officials of the CENI, administrative and customary authorities have been beheaded. Ruthless militia have killed women, men and children. All these innocent victims deserve justice. That is why the Government of my country will spare no effort to ensure that the perpetrators of all these crimes are arrested and punished. Before concluding, allow me to express the position of my Government on two of the recommendations formulated by the experts, as contained in the report before us.”

    2017-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8026 (2017) · source

48. “In the same spirit of openness and transparency, we note the excellent technical cooperation between the judicial authorities of my country and the experts from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, at the request of the American authorities. As regards Sweden's request for cooperation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I should like to reassure the Council that, just as we have been ready to cooperate with the American authorities, the Congolese Government agrees to cooperate with Sweden in the investigations being conducted by the Congolese judiciary, despite the fact that we do not have a formal mutual legal assistance convention between our two countries. The Minister of Justice has informed the Swedish Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on this point.”

    2017-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8026 (2017) · source

49. “As part of this collaboration, MONUSCO provides logistical assistance to the military prosecutor. In the same vein, three international experts of Senegalese, Canadian and Mauritanian nationality, were recently appointed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in accordance with resolution 35/33 of 23 June 2017 of the Human Rights Council, in agreement with the Congolese Government. These will be assisted by 19 international experts and experts from the African Union. It goes without saying that these experts must be deployed in strict compliance with the terms of reference established in the resolution of the Human Rights Council, namely, that the deployment must be in the framework of assistance provided to the investigations carried out the Congolese military justice system.”

    2017-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8026 (2017) · source

50. “The incriminated persons were convicted in the first degree following public hearings. As for the mass graves, the joint MONUSCO auditor- military investigations and audits are continuing. Regarding the deaths oftwo United Nations experts, the events leading to their assassination took place in Bunkonde, a town 100 kilometres from Kananga, the capital of Central Kasai province. Initiated by the Auditor General of the Congolese armed forces, the investigation into the murder of these two experts led to the identification of 16 suspects, 9 of whom are already in detention. Nineteen hearings have already taken place, while the next, devoted to a visit to the scene of the murder, is scheduled for August 21. In these investigations, Congolese justice is already working with the United Nations.”

    2017-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8026 (2017) · source